Harry Robert Bartl
Second Lieutenant Harry R. “Red” Bartl was a Marine pilot with VMF-214 – the “Black Sheep” squadron.
He was reported missing in action after a mission to Rabaul, 28 December 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-18730
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 2, 1921
at Sacramento, CA
Parents
Peter John Bartl
Minnie K. (Hartmann) Bartl
Education
Sacramento High School (1939)
Sacramento Junior College (1942)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
April 12, 1942 (enlisted)
April 21, 1943 (commission)
Home Of Record
1324½ 16th Street
Sacramento, CA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Peter Bartl
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-214
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Harry Bartl was a Marine pilot who joined the “Black Sheep” in mid-November 1943 for his first combat tour. Although a newcomer to the squadron, he quickly made an impression:
"Red" Bartl, 22 years old, lived in Sacramento California, where he'd graduated from Sacramento Junior College. He was the squadron's jive hound. When he had that faraway stare on his freckled face, you could be sure he was dreaming his way back to the Palladium for a night with Benny Goodman. It was said that more than one California chick was brokenhearted because Red, choosing between her and the Palladium, chose the latter. Red had been out of the States barely a month.
On 28 December 1943, VMF-214 sent twelve Corsairs to participate in a Rabaul fighter sweep. Captain J. Cameron Dustin led the third division, with “Red” Bartl flying on his wing; 1Lt. Edwin L. Olander and 1Lt. Bruce J. Matheson rounded out the roster. The strike leader – an officer from another squadron – led the flight on a low, wide approach which the “Black Sheep” opined put them in a vulnerable position. Sure enough, as they neared Rabaul, an estimated 60 Japanese fighters appeared in the sky with a considerable altitude advantage.
As the enemy planes bore down, Captain Dustin pulled into a hard climb. His division followed faithfully, but their trajectory “flew us right up into the sun… until bullets were tearing parts off our planes,” in the words of Lieutenant Olander. Olander and Matheson dove away and were soon embroiled in separate dogfights. They did not see “Dusty” Dustin or “Red” Bartl again; neither pilot returned to base.
One Corsair was seen to make a water landing near Cape Gazelle; this may have been Bartl, Dustin, or 1Lt. Donald J. Moore. It is not known whether the pilot was able to get out of the plane before it sank.
Burial Information or Disposition
After the mission, Harry Bartl was reported as missing in action and his Corsair (F4U-1 #56420) written off as lost. He was ultimately declared dead on 14 January 1946.
Bartl was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant while in missing status.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Peter Bartl.
Location Of Loss
Bartl was last seen in combat in the vicinity of Rabaul.
