John Frederick Farrelly
Sergeant J. Frederick “Freddie” Farrelly was a Marine aviator with VMSB-341.
He was reported missing in a storm near Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, on 15 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 386168
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
December 17, 1921
at Providence, RI
Parents
Helena K. (Shannon) Farrelly
divorced 1930 from
James Farrelly
Education
La Salle Academy (1939)
Occupation & Employer
Copy boy
Providence Journal / Evening Bulletin
Service Life
Entered Service
May 7, 1942
at Boston, MA
Home Of Record
1422 Broad Street
Providence, RI
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Helena J. Farrelly
Military Specialty
Aviation radioman / gunner
Primary Unit
VMSB-341
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
At 1600 hours on 15 January 1944, took off from Munda for a strike mission against Monoitu Mission Bridge, Bougainville. After bombing and strafing the area, set return course with wingman 1Lt. Louis H. Anderson. At 1715, while flying between the Shortland Islands and Vella Lavella, the two aircraft entered a large storm cloud. Sergeant Farrelly’s plane (SBD-5 BuNo 28290, Squadron Number 109) did not emerge.
Lieutenant Anderson searched the area for ninety minutes before low fuel forced him to break off and head for the nearest friendly airfield. He landed at Torokina to report Farrelly and First Lieutenant Tom F. Carroll as missing. No trace of the SBD or crew was ever found, and both Marines were declared dead on 16 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Helena Farrelly.
Location Of Loss
Farrelly’s plane was forced down in a storm near Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands.
