John Edward Mason
First Lieutenant John E. “Jack” Mason was a Marine Corps night fighter pilot who flew with VMF(N)-531.
His PV-1 Ventura disappeared on a training flight near Guadalcanal, 16 September 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-16445
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 26, 1920
at Kewanee, IL
Parents
John Mason
Eva Linnea (Edwardson) Mason
Education
Galesburg High School (1937)
Knox University (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Chemistry teacher
University of Illinois
Service Life
Entered Service
December 8, 1941 (enlisted)
November 27, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
Galesburg, IL
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. John Mason
Military Specialty
Night fighter pilot
Primary Unit
VMF(N)-531
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Jack Mason enlisted in the US Navy on 8 January 1942, intending to become a pilot. He trained at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, earned his wings and a commission as a Marine Corps second lieutenant on 27 November 1942, and deployed to the Pacific Theater with VMF(N)-531 – one of the first Marine night fighter squadrons to see active duty.
On 16 September 1943, Lieutenant Mason and his crew Staff Sergeant Ralph W. Emerson on the radar and Corporal John J. Burkett manning the guns – took PV-1 #29755 “Coral Princess” out of the Russell Islands for a training flight over Guadalcanal. An air alert forced the cancellation of the exercise, and the two planes aloft were vectored back to base.
Mason’s plane reported a position approximately 12 miles south of Tulagi, and acknowledged a request to rendezvous east of the Russell Islands. Suddenly, all communications with “Coral Princess” stopped. The Ventura never returned to base. Extensive searches proved fruitless and the entire crew was declared dead on the day of the incident.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, John & Eva Mason.
Location Of Loss
Last reported position of “Coral Princess,” about 12 miles south of Tulagi.
