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Maynard Warner Sailor

Second Lieutenant Maynard W. Sailor was a trainee Marine Corps torpedo bomber pilot.
He was killed in a mid-air collision near MCAS Santa Barbara on 3 October 1943.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-21297

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

CONUS Loss

Because this individual died within the limits of the continental United States, they are not tracked by the DPAA.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 7, 1920
at Fairbault, MN

Parents

Maynard C. Sailor
Ethel Mary (Hill) Sailor

Education

High school graduate

Occupation & Employer

North American Aviation Corporation
(in Kansas City, KS)

Service Life

Entered Service

May 15, 1942 (Navy)
May 5, 1943 (commission)

Home Of Record

Blue Earth, MN

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Ethel M. Sailor

Military Specialty

Pilot

Primary Unit

MBDAG-42

Campaigns Served

None

Individual Decorations

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Second Lieutenant Maynard Sailor was a pilot assigned to Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group (MBDAG) 42 at MCAS Santa Barbara. He was part of a training unit learning to fly torpedo bombers, including the latest TBF and TBM Avenger models.

On the afternoon of 3 October 1943, pilots from the Torpedo Bomber Training Unit took off from Santa Barbara for a practice flight. The schedule included formation flying and mock torpedo runs against a target boat. All went according to plan until Lieutenants Sailor and Edward P. Alciatore lined up to take their turn. Horrified pilots watched as the fatal accident unfolded. “One plane overtook and collided from below with the other,” they reported, “cutting the latter almost in half. Both planes spun into the sea from approximately 3,500 feet.” Most shocking of all, one of the pilots was ejected from the wreckage and hit the water without a chance to deploy his parachute.

Search and rescue operations were of no avail, and both pilots were reported as dead following the crash.

Excerpt from the muster roll of MBDAG-42, October 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition

Crashed at sea; remains not recovered.

Next Of Kin Address

Permanent address of mother, Mrs. Ethel M. Sailor.

Location Of Loss

Approximate location of the crash, four miles south of Santa Barbara Point.

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