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Roy Major Alexander Ruddell

Second Lieutenant Roy M. A. Ruddell was a Marine fighter pilot with VMF-121.
He was reported missing in action at Guadalcanal on 11 November 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-9408

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

March 26, 1918
at Plymouth, England

Parents

Robert James Ruddell
Nellie Florence (Cains) Ruddell

Education

New Castle Chrysler High School (1936)
University of Colorado, Boulder (1941)

Occupation & Employer

Recent graduate

Service Life

Entered Service

July 15, 1941 (enlisted)
March 20, 1942 (officer)

Home Of Record

New Castle, IN

Next Of Kin

Wife, Mrs. Grace (Van Riper) Ruddell

Military Specialty

Pilot

Primary Unit

VMF-121

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations
Additional Service Details

Roy’s older brother, Captain Cyril Daniel Edward Ruddell, died in an accident while flying with the 74th Fighter Squardon, 15th Fighter Group, US Army Air Corps.

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

British-born Roy Ruddell enlisted in the Navy Reserve in the summer of 1941; in March 1942, he earned his pilot’s wings and a Marine Corps commission at NATC Miami. After additional stateside training, he deployed overseas as a member of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 121, and arrived at Guadalcanal on 9 October 1942. For the next two months, Ruddell flew combat missions out of Henderson Field as a member of the “Cactus Air Force.” He was part of Captain Joe Foss‘ famous “Flying Circus,” and was credited with at least one (possibly as many as three) kills in air-to-air combat.

At 0930 on 11 November 1942, twenty-one Wildcats took off from Henderson Field to intercept a strike force of Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Thick cloud cover worked to the attacker’s advantage, and in the ensuing dogfight six Wildcats went down. Lieutenant Thomas Mann made a water landing near Tulagi and swam ashore, while Technical Sergeant Joe Palko’s body was found and buried on the island. Second Lieutenants Robert F. SimpsonJoseph L. Narr, and  Roy Ruddell (piloting F4F-4 BuNo 03533) failed to return and were never seen again.

(The sixth pilot, Staff Sergeant William H. Coahran, Jr., of VMF-112 bailed out over Japanese territory and never returned.)

Burial Information or Disposition

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

Roy Ruddell was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
On 18 June 1943, Captain Cyril D. E. Ruddell died in an accident while flying with the 47th Fighter Squadron at Haleiwa Field, Hawaii. Like Roy, his body was never recovered.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of wife, Mrs. Grace W. (Van Riper) Ruddell.
Their son, also named Roy, was born in 1943.

Location Of Loss

Lieutenant Ruddell was shot down over Guadalcanal; exact location unknown.

Gallery

Related Profiles

VMF-121 pilots missing over Guadalcanal
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