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NAME Donnelly Carlton Cameron |
NICKNAME Carlton |
SERVICE NUMBER 330904 |
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| UNIT VMSB-143 Radioman |
HOME OF RECORD 2015 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC |
NEXT OF KIN Wife, Mrs. Mary E. Cameron |
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| DATE OF BIRTH 1922 |
ENTERED SERVICE December 1, 1941 |
DATE OF LOSS February 28, 1943 |
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| REGION Solomon Islands |
CAMPAIGN / AREA Bougainville / Kahili |
CASUALTY TYPE Missing In Action |
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| CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS Sergeant Donnelly C. Cameron was an aviation radioman assigned to VMSB-143. His squadron took part in the campaign for the northern Solomon Islands in 1942 and early 1943. On 28 February 1943, Cameron’s aircraft – a TBF-1 Avenger (BuNo 06109) nicknamed “Peggy” – took off for a night bombing mission against Kahili Airdrome. The concussion of the bombs shook the aircraft and tore a hole in the wing. “Peggy” hit the water, flipped over, and sank upside-down. The pilot, Captain Alexander R. Berry, and gunner, Pvt. Cephas Kelly, managed to escape, but Cameron was evidently trapped in the aircraft. He was never seen alive again, and after being listed as missing for a year, was declared dead on the day of the mission. Note: Berry and Kelly were captured and imprisoned on Rabaul. Berry was executed by the Japanese, while Kelly survived his ordeal and returned to the United States. |
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| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Air Medal, Purple Heart |
LAST KNOWN RANK Sergeant |
STATUS OF REMAINS Missing in action |
MEMORIALS Manila American Cemetery |
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Biography:
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