Corsair loss 02/16/1945

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Corsair loss on the 16th February, 1945.

2Lt. Harry Bearlund of VMF 123.
What were the a/c markings ?

What became of Lt. Bearlund ?

Thanks
Alex

[twocee]

2Lt. Bearlund ran out of fuel while returning from a mission to the Tokyo area. He was forced to ditch and was rescued by DD Longshaw. His aircraft was BuNo 82297, assigned to VMF112, the other Marine F4U squadron on Bennington. I don't know the side number.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you George,
Just what I was looking for, could not find him as mia/kia that date.
DD Longshaw, what type of ship ?
Alex

[RSwank]

From Fold3.com here: https://www.fold3.com/image/295410523

"At 12:21 an F4U from Bennington made a water landing ahead of Cushing and Colahan. Colahan recovered the pilot, 2nd Lt H. J. Bearlund, USMCR of VFM123 at 12:42. Lt Bearlund's condition was good although he was suffering from exposure."

The USS Colahan (DD-658) was a Fletcher class destroyer. It was operating as a radar picket ship for a carrier task force.

Bearlund is later transferred to the Lexington for further transfer back to the Bennington.

[SteveR]

Just to complete, USS Longshaw (DD-559) was also a Fletcher class destroyer.

[twocee]

Thanks for that correction to the name of the DD effecting the rescue.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you all for the detailed replies.
Appreciation.
Alex