Elmer Leonard Will, Jr.
Sergeant Elmer L. Will, Jr. served as a turret gunner with VMTB-143, a Marine torpedo-bomber squadron based in the Solomon Islands.
He was killed in a mid-air collision while training near Espiritu Santo on 19 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 406091
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
23 April 1925
at Guston, KY
Parents
Elmer Sr. & Lena Will
Education
William Wirt High School
Occupation & Employer
High school student
Other
Mother Lena died 1938.
Married on 14 October 1943.
Service Life
Entered Service
3 June 1942
at Indianapolis, IN
Home Of Record
416 Carr Court
Gary, IN
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Barbara J. Will
Military Specialty
Aviator; turret gunner
Primary Unit
VMTB-143
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
At time of death, was serving as turret gunner in TBF-1 #06355.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 19 November 1943, aircraft from VMTB-134 were engaged in training flights in the vicinity of Sakau Island off the northern coast of Espiritu Santo. One of these planes was Avenger TBF-1 06355, piloted by 2Lt. Clarence J. Hess and with Sgt. Elmer L. Will, Jr. and Cpl. Robert A. Berry aboard as crew.
At 1435 hours, Lieutenant Hess’ bomber collided with two other Avengers flown by 1Lt. Edward L. Barker and 1Lt. Ben T. Phillips. As the crippled plane fell from the sky, Hess managed to jump from the cockpit and parachute safely. Sergeant Will and Corporal Berry were trapped in the fuselage and did not emerge before the Avenger hit the water approximately one mile southeast of Sakau Island.
Barker and Phillips managed to land their bombers back at Turtle Bay. Hess was picked up by a crash boat, treated for multiple injuries, and returned to duty. Searches for Will and Berry proved fruitless, and both Marines were reported dead following the incident.
Burial Information or Disposition
Not recovered; result of plane crash at sea.
