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Harry Morton Radford

PFC Harry M. “Morty” Radford was a Marine Corps gunner who flew with VMSB-241.
He was shot down and reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 294811

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

Current Status

Remains not recovered.

Pursuit Category

Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

January 31, 1920
at Jasper, MO

Parents

Herschel Martin Radford (d. 1931)
Pearl Pauline (Strecker) Radford
later Mrs. Pearl Johns

Education

Carthage High School (1939)

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

September 12, 1940
at Kansas City, MO

Home Of Record

609 Olive Street
Carthage, Missouri

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Pearl P. Johns

Military Specialty

Radioman/Gunner

Primary Unit

VMSB-241

Campaigns Served

Midway

Individual Decorations
Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Private First Class “Morton” Radford was a Marine radioman and gunner  with VMSB-241, a scout-bomber squadron based at Midway Island in 1942. He was part of the Third Section, First Division, led by Major Lofton R. Henderson, and usually flew with fellow Missourian 2Lt. Maurice A. Ward as his pilot.

At 0610 hours on 4 June 1942, VMSB-241 took off from Midway and rendezvoused at “Point Affirm” – a safe distance from the airfield, out of the way of an incoming Japanese strike force. A radio message sent them on course to attack an enemy carrier; a two-hour flight brought them within sight of the IJN Hiryū. The carrier sent up a wall of flak, and her fighters quickly climbed to engage the unescorted American bombers.

In the chaos and violence of the attack, SBD-2 Dauntless #2122 fell victim to a Japanese fighter or anti-aircraft gunner. No eyewitness accounts report seeing Ward and Radford fall, but they did not return from the Hiryū strike. Both Marines were officially declared dead on 5 June 1943.

Burial Information or Disposition

Shot down at sea; remains not recovered.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Pearl Johns.

Location Of Loss

Radford was shot down at an unspecified point after departing from Midway.

Related Profiles

Personnel of VMSB-241 lost at Midway
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