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William Jared Knapp, Jr.

Second Lieutenant William J. “Jerry” Knapp, Jr., served as a pilot with VMSB-141 during the Guadalcanal campaign.
He was lost in a storm over the Solomon Islands on 13 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-10933

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

August 24, 1919
at Harrison, NY

Parents

William Jared Knapp
Carrie Louise (Allen) Knapp

Education

The Hill School (1937)
Yale University (1941)

Occupation & Employer

Recent graduate

Service Life

Entered Service

June 26, 1941 (enlisted)
June 2, 1942 (officer)

Home Of Record

Millbrook, NY

Next Of Kin

Wife, Mrs. Miriam Knapp

Military Specialty

Pilot

Primary Unit

VMSB-141

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

William “Jerry” Knapp enlisted as an aviation cadet in June 1941, along with a group of fellow Yale graduates. He received his wings and Marine Corps commission from NATC Miami a year later and, after additional stateside training as a dive-bomber pilot, was posted to overseas duty with VMSB-141. As part of the “Cactus Air Force” flying out of Guadalcanal, Knapp took part in numerous patrols and strikes – and even scored a remarkable aerial victory using the fixed guns of his slow-moving SBD “Dauntless.”

On 13 November 1942, American Army, Navy, and Marine pilots based on Guadalcanal attempted to finish off the Japanese battleship Hiei, crippled in a naval battle near Savo Island. The big ship attempted to steam north to safety while her crew worked desperately to repair her crippled steering mechanism; although hit numerous times, she stubbornly remained afloat. A final flight of Marine dive bombers departed Henderson Field late in the afternoon and flew through a rapidly developing storm to attack the Hiei‘s escorting ships. Among the fliers were Second Lieutenant Knapp and Staff Sergeant Leighton M. Manning in SBD-3 06571.

The storm grew so strong that the flight was scattered and only the leader, Major Joseph Sailer, Jr., was able to drop his bomb on the target. In the relatively short distance between Henderson Field and the Hiei, two bombers disappeared along with their crews. Knapp and Manning were never heard from again; both were declared dead on 19 February 1945.

Burial Information or Disposition

None; remains not recovered. Knapp was officially declared dead on 19 February 1945.

Jerry Knapp was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

The wreck of Hiei was discovered by the R/V Petrel in 2019.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of wife, Mrs. Miriam “Peggy” (Austin) Knapp

Location Of Loss

SBD-3 #06571 was last seen entering bad weather near Savo Island.

Related Profiles

VMSB-141 personnel non-recovered from the Guadalcanal area.
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