William Elijah Strickland
William E. Strickland was a Marine Corps fighter pilot who flew with VMF-123.
He was last seen in a dogfight with Japanese aircraft over Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, on 21 August 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve (Aviation)
Service Number O-17017
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
History
William Strickland was born in Sweetwater, Texas on 27 September 1919. His parents were William and Hattie Strickland. At the time of his entry into the service, he was living in Dallas, Texas.
William’s family included older sisters Margaret, Mollie, and Flora; and younger siblings May, Thomas, and Hattie.
He attended Arkansas Teacher’s College (now the University of Central Arkansas) and was active in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
William Strickland enlisted in the United States Navy on 10 March 1942. He was 22 at the time.
William attended Navy basic flight training and was sent to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 31 December 1942.
After earning his wings as a fighter pilot, 2Lt. Strickland was assigned to duty with VMF-123, Marine Air Group 21.
On 21 August 1943, 2Lt. Strickland was one of twenty-four Marine pilots from VMF-123 to intercept an attack force of Japanese aircraft over Vella Lavella. The Japanese forces, estimated at 60-80 “Zeke” fighters and 30-40 “Val” dive-bombers were targeting American ships unloading supplies near Barakoma.
Strickland and his plane, F4U-1 BuNo 02310, were last seen at the start of the dogfight. He did not return to base, and no definitive reports of his fate were received. Strickland was initially reported as missing in action, and eventually declared dead on 22 August 1944. He received a posthumous promotion to Captain.
News of the incident was sent to the primary next of kin, his mother Hattie, at home in Dallas, Texas.
Decorations
