Wiley Harold Craft
Second Lieutenant Wiley H. Craft was a Marine pilot who flew with VMF-121.
He was reported missing after a fighter intercept mission over Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 17 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-9038
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
February 24, 1919
at Nogales, AZ
Parents
Wiley Bud Craft (d. 1925)
Ethel (Harrington) Craft
later Mrs. Ethel Jester
Education
Conroe High School (1936)
Texas A&M (ex-1943)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
April 18, 1941 (enlisted)
March 31, 1942 (commission)
Home Of Record
912 Lexington Avenue
Corpus Christi, TX
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Ethel Jester
Military Specialty
Pilot
Assistant Flight Officer
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Wiley Craft, a fighter pilot assigned to VMF-121, arrived at Guadalcanal on 6 October 1942. He flew combat missions over the Solomon Islands for the next eleven days.
On the morning of 17 October 1942, Japanese raiders were reported heading for American ships in Sealark Channel. The morning CAP – eight members of VMF-121, including Lieutenant Craft – were sent to intercept. Six of the attackers were shot down, but Craft’s Wildcat failed to return. He was reported as missing in action following the engagement, and ultimately declared dead on 19 February 1945.
Craft’s Aggie classmate, Samuel T. Gillespie of VMSB-141, was also lost on a mission out of Henderson Field on 17 October 1942. Both Marine pilots were posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
In 2019, a data plate for F4F-4 #5122 was found near the “Fighter 1” airstrip on Guadalcanal. This number matched the plane Craft was reportedly flying on his final mission. The plate is not associated with a wreck site – if Craft had crashed near Fighter 1, there would have been scores of witnesses. It is thought that the plate was either damaged and discarded prior to 17 October, or perhaps Craft was flying an entirely different Wildcat when he disappeared.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Ethel Jester.
Location Of Loss
Lieutenant Craft was last seen departing Guadalcanal for a combat patrol.
