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Egbert Vernon Wagner

First Lieutenant Egbert V. “Chiz” Wagner was a Marine fighter pilot with VMF-112.
He died in a mid-air collision near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 26 January 1943.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-9476

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

September 27, 1918
at Cowles, NE

Parents

Robert Wagner
Florence Adeline (Schoop) Wagner

Education

Treynor High School
Wartburg College (1939)

Occupation & Employer

Teacher (Garrison public schools)

Service Life

Entered Service

May 28, 1941 (enlisted)
April 2, 1942 (commission)

Home Of Record

Treynor, IA

Next Of Kin

Parents, Rev. Robert & Mrs. Florence Wagner

Military Specialty

Fighter Pilot

Primary Unit

VMF-112

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Air Medal with Gold Star
Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

First Lieutenant Egbert “Chiz” Wagner was a Cactus Air Force veteran who served two tours over Guadalcanal with VMF-112. By January, he was assigned duty as a flight leader.

On 26 January 1943, Wagner fired up the engine of his Wildcat fighter (F4F-3 BuNo 5087) and took off for a combat patrol. At an altitude of 8,500 feet, he attempted a “cross-over” maneuver with 1Lt. Thomas H. Hughes, Jr. The two airplanes collided and began to fall, spinning violently. Hughes bailed out at 7,500 feet; his parachute opened, and he drifted to a safe landing.

Wagner was seen to exit his cockpit at 6,000 feet – but never opened his parachute. His body splashed into Iron Bottom Sound about two miles offshore of Guadalcanal. Later, his fellow pilots would speculate whether Wagner’s parachute had failed, or if he had been knocked unconscious by the impact and never had a chance to pull the cord.

Burial Information or Disposition

A crash boat searched the area, and managed to retrieve Wagner’s life belt from the sea. No trace of the pilot could be found.

Although initially reported a “missing” after the incident, Wagner’s status was updated to killed in action. Because the crash occurred on a combat flight, he was eligible for the Purple Heart.

On 3 March 1944, Egbert’s younger brother – 2Lt. Richard Paul Wagner, USMC – was killed in a training accident in California. The third brother, Robert, was honorably discharged from the Navy as a result.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Robert and Florence Wagner.

Location Of Loss

Lieutenant Wagner fell into the waters of Iron Bottom Sound.

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