Joseph Sailer, Jr.

	NAME Joseph Sailer, Jr.	NICKNAME —	SERVICE NUMBER O-4675
	UNIT VMSB-132	HOME OF RECORD 8012 Crefield Street, Philadelphia, PA	NEXT OF KIN Mother, Mrs. Joseph Sailer, Sr
	DATE OF BIRTH August 14, 1907	ENTERED SERVICE June 13, 1930	DATE OF LOSS December 7, 1942
	REGION Solomon Islands	CAMPAIGN / AREA New Georgia	CASUALTY TYPE Missing In Action Declared Dead December 8, 1943
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS Major Joseph Sailer, Jr. was the commanding officer of VMSB-132, a Marine scout-bomber squadron operating out of Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force. In November and December 1942, he led numerous successful strikes against Japanese ships in the Solomon Islands. On 7 December 1942, Sailer led a flight of six SBD “Dauntless” dive bombers to attack a group of Japanese destroyers off New Georgia. The major hit his target, but his dive brakes failed to retract, greatly slowing his aircraft. Just as Sailer radioed that he would need to make a crash landing, a Japanese float plane raked his bomber, and SBD-3 Bureau Number 06689 turned on its back and crashed into the sea. No trace of Sailer or his radioman, PFC James W. Alexander, was ever seen again. Both men were declared dead on 8 December 1943.
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Navy Cross, Purple Heart	LAST KNOWN RANK Major	STATUS OF REMAINS Lost at sea.	MEMORIALS Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA Manila American Cemetery

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The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Major Joseph Sailer, Jr. (MCSN: 0-4675), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (VMSB-132), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Guadalcanal Area of the Solomons Islands from 10 to 15 November 1942. Zealously seeking out and engaging the enemy under extremely hazardous conditions, Major Sailer led six attacks in spite of intense aerial opposition and anti-aircraft fire, scoring direct hits on a Japanese battleship of the Kongo Class, a heavy cruiser, a destroyer and two transports. His determined fighting spirit and unyielding devotion to duty contributed decisively to our success in routing the Japanese forces. His actions at all times were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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