Leonard Bruce Pike
Corporal Leonard B. “Bruce” Pike was a Marine aviator with VMTB-232.
His TBF Avenger was lost while attacking Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, on 17 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 346936
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 5, 1921
at Price, UT
Parents
Leonard Anthony Pike
Lucille (Quinney) Pike
Education
Carbon High School
Utah State Agricultural College
Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
February 23, 1942
at Salt Lake City, UT
Home Of Record
438 East Main Street
Price, UT
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Leonard Pike
Military Specialty
Aviation radioman / gunner
Primary Unit
VMTB-232
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Pike served as a radioman in the 10th Marines (Artillery) before becoming an aviator.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 17 January 1944, TBF-1C #24363 (Squadron Number 121) took off from Piva as part of an 18-plane strike against ships at Simpson Harbor, Rabaul. Aboard were the pilot, First Lieutenant Harold H. Millar, Jr., radioman Corporal Leonard B. Pike and gunner PFC Victor H. Hertager – a veteran crew who had already sunk a Japanese transport ship.
Once over Simpson Harbor, Millar lined up on another transport and dove down for his drop. The bomb scored a hit, but the Avenger never pulled out of the dive. Other aviators reported that both wings came off the fuselage, and the bomber rolled over and hit the water. It was not clear if a structural failure was to blame, or if Millar was so close to the target that his wings clipped the mast.
VMTB-232 concluded its tour of duty the following day and departed for Espiritu Santo. All three Marines were posted as missing after the mission, and ultimately declared dead on 18 January 1945.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Leonard & Lucille Pike
Location Of Loss
TBF-1C #24363 crashed into Simpson Harbor, near Rabaul.
