Joseph Edward Henabery, Jr.
First Lieutenant Joseph E. Henabery, Jr., was a Marine pilot with VMF-218.
He was reported missing in action after a mission to Tobera, Rabaul area, on 3 February 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-23025
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 31, 1921
at Hollywood, CA
Parents
Joseph Henabery
Mary Cecelia “Maeceal” (Nolan) Henabery (d. 1922)
Rose Lillian “Lil” (Nolan) Henabery
Education
St. John’s Prep (1940)
Occupation & Employer
Grumman Aircraft Corporation
Service Life
Entered Service
June 12, 1942 (enlisted)
May 7, 1943 (officer)
Home Of Record
3506 73rd Street
Jackson Heights, NY
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Rose Henabery
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-218
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 3 February 1944, took off from Piva North Airfield in F4U-1 #18012 to provide fighter cover for a bomber strike on Tobera Airfield near Rabaul. The war diary of VMTB-233, one of the bombing squadrons making the attack, reported “meager and inaccurate” anti-aircraft fire, and only one Japanese fighter attempting to attack their formation. However, the strike cost the lives of two pilots from VMF-218.
First Lieutenant Henabery was reportedly “shot down five or six miles south of Tobera and Ralabang Plantation.” He was posted as missing in action following the mission, and eventually declared dead on 4 February 1945.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Rose Henabery.
Location Of Loss
Approximate site where Henabery was last seen, six miles south of Ralabang.
