Lawrence Henry Wandler
PFC Lawrence H. Wandler was a Marine aircrewman with VMSB-131.
He was lost on a routine patrol mission off the coast of California, 8 February 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 297335
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
November 5, 1919
at New York, NY
Parents
Henry Joseph Wandler
Alice (Landefeld) Wandler
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
September 12, 1940
at Brooklyn, NY
Home Of Record
1112 Finlay Avenue
Bronx, NY
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Alice Wandler
Military Specialty
Aviation radioman / gunner
Primary Unit
VMSB-131
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Lawrence Wandler left college to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve. After initial training at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Wandler was assigned duty with Service Squadron 11 in Quantico, Virginia. He was transferred to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB) 131 late in 1941, and went to California in the wake of Pearl Harbor to defend the west coast against a possible Japanese attack.
On the morning of 8 February 1942, Wandler and enlisted pilot TSgt. Samuel E. Moose boarded an SB2U-3 “Vindicator” (Bureau Number 2884) and took off for a routine sector search. Four planes departed San Clemente at 0710, but only three returned at 0930. Moose and Wandler had been forced down at sea nearly 120 miles from the nearest land; a fellow pilot reported seeing a rubber boat in the vicinity. VMSB-131 put all available pilots into the air to search, and a crash boat was sent out from San Clemente to rescue the stranded men. Bad weather sent the boat back to base, and the planes returned without success.
Search and rescue flights continued over the next three days, with amphibious aircraft from San Diego lending a hand. No trace of Moose or Wandler remained; the two Marines were posted as missing, and ultimately declared dead on 9 February 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
None, remains lost at sea.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Alice Wandler.
Location Of Loss
Approximate location of the crash site, 120 miles NW of San Clemente Island.
