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Charles Bernard McAllister

Second Lieutenant Charles B. McAllister was a Marine pilot who flew with VMSB-232.
His aircraft was lost in a storm near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 6 September 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-10242

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

December 4, 1917
at Olean, NY

Parents

Patrick Francis McAllister
Linnie Agnes (MacDonald) McAllister

Education

Hornell High School (1936)
Niagara University (ex-1940)

Occupation & Employer

Enlisted from college

Service Life

Entered Service

June 25, 1940 (enlisted)
April 30, 1942 (officer)

Home Of Record

30 Center Street
Hornell, NY

Next Of Kin

Wife, Mrs. Hazel F. McAllister

Military Specialty

Pilot

Primary Unit

VMSB-232

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

McAllister attended Hospital Corps school; he was rated as HA1c when he applied for flight training.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Second Lieutenant Charles McAllister – usually known as “Bernard” – was a Marine dive bomber pilot with VMSB-232. As part of the Cactus Air Force, McAllister flew a heavy rotation of missions in a very short time, including strikes against Japanese ground troops on the ‘Canal, and shipping near Ramos Island.

A close call for Lt. McAllister, reported in the MAG-23 War Diary, 21 August 1942.

On 7 September 1942, Major Fletcher L. Brown, Jr. led a division of dive bombers in a strike on Japanese harbor installations on Gizo in the western Solomons. No aircraft were lost in the attack, but a “violent rain squall” blew in on the return flight. The formation, flying at just 200′ altitude, broke apart as each pilot tried to make his own way through the storm. One aircraft was seen to crash, and another disappeared in the gloom. McAllister’s bomber (SBD-3 BuNo 03342 or 03379) never returned Henderson Field.

Neither Bernard McAllister nor his gunner, Corporal William R. Proffitt, were seen again. Both men were declared dead on 7 September 1943; McAllister received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Captain.

Burial Information or Disposition

None reported; wreck site not found.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of wife, Mrs. Hazel Cosner McAllister

Location Of Loss

McAllister and Proffitt were lost on a return flight from Gizo to Guadalcanal. Exact location is not known.

Related Profiles

Pilots and aircrew of VMSB-232 lost in the Guadalcanal campaign.
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6 thoughts on “Charles B. McAllister”

  1. The BuNo for the plane McAllister was flying on Sept. 6, 1942 is recorded as SBD-3 #03342 in official records, but the number in his flight log book is SBD-3 #03379. What would cause the discrepancy? Thank you.

    1. Hello!

      I’m not sure what would cause that discrepancy. Unfortunately I haven’t found a squadron log book that covers that date (Marine Air Group 23 was the parent unit of Lt. McAllister’s squadron). Also, unusually, whomever was typing up the groups’ history stopped including the BuNos for damaged or destroyed aircraft in late August.

      AviationArchaeology lists SBD-3 #03342 lost September 6, piloted by Lt. McAllister.
      http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/LLsep42.htm

      SBD-3 #03379 was assigned to the same squadron. The AviationArchaeology lists that aircraft as destroyed in the Guadalcanal area on October 14, 1942, but does not provide a pilot’s name:
      http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/LLOct42.htm

      VMSB-232 left Guadalcanal on October 12, but likely left their aircraft behind for the relieving squadron (they were to retrain on Avenger torpedo bombers). Henderson Field was badly shelled on October 14; the damage was so bad that MAG-23 had to temporarily relocate to an auxiliary field, and #03379 was probably wrecked there.

      Again, I’m not sure what could cause the discrepancy. Perhaps Lt. McAllister was accustomed to flying #03379 over the other, and entered that number in his flight log out of habit. Or perhaps #03379 was taken off the line for mechanical problems the day of his last flight, and he had to substitute.

      Hope this has been helpful.

    2. There are discrepancies between the overseas loss list and other records based upon my own research. I can almost guarantee (there are never absolutes in this) that BuNo 03379 listed in your uncle’s log book is correct based upon my research of VMSB-232 at Guadalcanal. I would like to correspond more with you if possible.

  2. Mary,

    Sept 1, 1942 saw the first batch of mail reach Guadalcanal. McAllister received the news that he was to be a father. He was over the moon with happiness at this, according to one of the 232 gunners I interviewed in the 90s.

    Did Hazel have a boy or a girl? Would love to talk to you about your uncle.

    Thanks,

    John R Bruning
    johnbruningjr@yahoo.com

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