Richard Furman Dabbs
Second Lieutenant Richard “Furman” Dabbs was a Marine pilot with VMS-3 in the Virgin Islands.
He failed to return from a search mission in the West Indies on 15 September 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-9475
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
June 14, 1920
at Mayesville, SC
Parents
Eugene Whitefield Dabbs Jr. (d. 1943)
Addie Estella (Glasscock) Dabbs
Education
Citadel 1941
Occupation & Employer
Entered service from college
Service Life
Entered Service
July 24, 1941 (enlisted)
March 31, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
Mayesville, SC
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. E. W. Dabbs Jr.
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMS-3
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Richard Dabbs – usually called by his middle name, Furman – was a Marine Corps pilot assigned to VMS-3, stationed on the idyllic island of St. Thomas. His daily flying duties consisted of routine patrols searching for German submarines in the Caribbean, or survivors of sunken ships.
On 15 September 1942, Dabbs and mechanic PFC Bert A. Shea, Jr. were assigned to temporary aviation duty at Naval Air Station St. Lucia. A Marine Corps plane operating between St. Lucia and St. Vincent was overdue; Dabbs and Shea set out for a sector search. They departed St. Lucia in a Grumman J2FN “Duck” (number 1204), but never returned to base.
Dabbs and Shea were reported missing after this mission; nothing more was ever learned of their fate. Both Marines were officially declared dead on 16 September 1943.
Furman Dabbs was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; plane failed to return.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, E. W. and Addie Dabbs.
Location Of Loss
Last reported location of the downed plane sought by Dabbs and Shea.
