Joseph Lawson Narr
Second Lieutenant Joseph L. “Lawson” Narr was an ace Marine fighter pilot with VMF-121.
He was shot down over Guadalcanal on 11 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-10336
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 26, 1916
at Philadelphia, PA
Parents
Dr. Fredrick Conrad Narr (d. 1943)
Elsie P. (Lawson) Narr (d. 1923)
Stepmother, Ulva (Nelson) Narr
Education
Southwest High School (1934)
University of Arizona (ex-1938)
Occupation & Employer
Department Manager
Sears, Roebuck & Company
Service Life
Entered Service
September 19, 1941 (enlisted)
May 15, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
Hickman Mills, MO
Next Of Kin
Sister, Mrs. Kathryn N. Patzman
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-121
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Navy Cross (October 13 – 30 1942)
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Lawson Narr is officially credited with seven aerial victories
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Narr earned his wings and commission at Naval Air Station Miami, and deployed overseas with Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 121. He landed at Henderson Field on 9 October 1942 and began flying combat missions the next day. Narr’s career nearly ended on 13 October when his Wildcat, either combat damaged or mechanically faulty, had to be ditched at sea. Sergeant William Rogal (A/1/2nd Marines) described rescuing a pilot on that date:
...the plane almost instantly upended and sank. The pilot escaped, for we could see his head bobbing in the choppy waves. Without pausing to think I whipped out of my shoes and clothes and waded into the surf.... When I reached his vicinity, I could see he was bleeding from a head cut. He was barely afloat and seemed dazed. Remembering that drowning victims not infrequently panic and pull would-be rescuers under, I warned him, "I'm coming up behind you. Don't turn around and try to grab me!" He responded, "I won't grab you." I seized his collar and started towing him to shore. At one point in our journey he became discouraged and said "Save yourself and let me go." I assured him we were making progress, although I have to admit I was getting awfully tired.... I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for this afternoon swim.*
Narr was soon back on flying status and began racking up victories. He claimed a Zero, followed by two dive bombers, then two more Zeros and a heavy bomber in a little more than a week of flying, solidifying his ace status. By the end of October, he had seven kills to his name.
At 0930 on 11 November 1942, twenty-one Wildcats took off from Henderson Field to intercept a strike force of Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Thick cloud cover worked to the attacker’s advantage, and in the ensuing dogfight six Wildcats went down. Lieutenant Thomas Mann made a water landing near Tulagi and swam ashore, while Technical Sergeant Joe Palko’s body was found and buried on the island. Second Lieutenants Robert F. Simpson, Roy M. A. Ruddell, and Joe Narr (piloting F4F-4 BuNo 03467) failed to return and were never seen again.
(The sixth pilot, Staff Sergeant William H. Coahran, Jr., of VMF-112 bailed out over Japanese territory and never returned.)
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered. Narr was officially declared dead on 19 February 1945.
Joseph Narr was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
Memorials
*Note: While two reputable sources (John Lundstrom’s First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign and Thomas Doll’s Marine Fighting Squadron One-Twenty-One) state that Narr shot down his first Zero and made a water landing on 13 October, the MAG-23 War Diary attributes this adventure to 2Lt. William B. Freeman. The Kansas City Times referenced a letter from Narr stating that he was downed on “his first day up” and shooting down the Zero occurred “a short time later.” The exact sequence of events is not clear. Finally, Rogal admitted not knowing the name of the pilot until preparing to write his 2010 memoir.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of sister, Mrs. Kathryn Patzman.
Location Of Loss
Lieutenant Narr was shot down over Guadalcanal; exact location unknown.
