Joseph Craig III
First Lieutenant Joseph “Joey” Craig III was a Marine fighter pilot with VMF-222.
He failed to return from an escort mission to Vunakanau, Rabaul area, 10 February 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-14522
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 1, 1921
at Savannah, GA
Parents
Joseph Craig, Jr.
Alice Frances (Meyer) Craig
Education
Benedictine Military Academy
Armstrong Junior College (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
October 23, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
206 East 50th Street
Savannah, GA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Joseph Craig Jr.
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-222
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons (three tours)
Individual Decorations
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Lieutenant Joseph Craig joined VMF-222 in the spring of 1943, and deployed to the Pacific with the squadron. He flew two combat tours in the Solomon Islands, and started his third on 9 January 1944.
On 10 February 1944, eight “Flying Deuces” – including Joey Craig in F4U-1 #02173 – took off from Piva to provide fighter cover for a strike on Vunakanau airfield near Rabaul. Anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters were encountered; VMF-222 pilots claimed two kills and reported that “the bombing seemed to do maximum destruction to the airfield.” All returned to Piva except for Lieutenant Craig. He was “last seen at 8,000 feet between Tabera and Vunakanau,” and “believed to have made water landing” but this was never confirmed.
No explanation was ever given for Craig’s disappearance, and nothing more was heard from him. He was ultimately declared dead on 17 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Joseph Craig Jr.
Location Of Loss
Craig was last seen in the Vunakanau region near Rabaul.
