Date
Location
Force
Aircraft
From-To
Crew
20-01-1944
Ilha das Flores (in the sea)
USNAVY VC-13
Grumman TBF-1C Avenger BuN 47972
USS Guadalcanal (CVE-13) → USS Guadalcanal (CVE-13)
Lt. Bert M. Beattie USA †
Sgt. Hug W. Wilson USA †
Sgt. Weaton USA †
They got lost from the air-carrier USS Guadalcanal during a patrol. Without communications, they ditched in the sea near Flores island, in the Azores.
They were able to leave the plane but drowned because they could not reach the beach and the local population could not help them because of bad weather.
Only the body of Weaton appeared latter on a beach and was buried in the local cemetery until the end of the war when the American authorities took it to another location, probably in France.
Resources:
* NARA - National Archives and Record Administration - Washington
* uboatarchive.net
