William Francis Lucas
Captain William F. Lucas was a Marine pilot who flew with VMF-224.
He was killed in an accidental mid-air collision while on a training flight near Funafuti, 8 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve (Aviation)
Service Number O-7955
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
Due to circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
History
William Lucas was born on 31 October 1915, to George and Genevieve Lucas of Columbus, Indiana. The Lucases were an affluent and well-known family; George owned a furniture company, and Genevieve was a local socialite. A tragic automobile accident took her life in November of 1920. George remarried, but there would be no more Lucas children.
William spent his entire childhood in Columbus, prior to graduating from the local high school in 1933. William was a notable student; his accolades included Honor Society President, the Dramatic Club, orchestra and band, and captain of the swimming team. He was best known for this last talent, and took his skills to the University of Indiana as an “oustanding swimmer.”
Tragedy struck again during William’s freshman year: his father George died of heart disease in January 1934.
After completing his university studies, Lucas went to work in the personnel department of renowned Indianapolis department store L. S. Ayres.
On 10 March 1941, Lucas enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve as an aviation cadet. He was sent to Naval Air Station Jacksonville for training, and earned his wings and commission on 9 January 1942. While many of Lucas’ classmates headed west to join combat squadrons, he himself stayed at Jacksonville as a flight instructor.
Lucas served at Jacksonville through the spring of 1943; he was appointed to the rank of captain, and married Marguerite Hamilton of Jacksonville that June. Shortly after the wedding, Lucas transferred to California to join VMF-224, a veteran fighter squadron preparing to redeploy to the Pacific.
Captain Lucas arrived at Funafuti in the Ellice Islands on 21 October 1943. The squadron was assigned to patrol duty, and continued their training with daily flights.
The eighth of November 1943 was another training day for VMF-224, with gunnery hops and interception drills dominating the schedule. One flight of Corsairs rendesvouzed at a spot some 43 miles from Funafuti and circled, waiting for their target to appear.
A friendly F4U towing a target sleeve hove into sight, and the Marines began lining up their shots. At around 1400 hours, the routine practice turned tragic when two Corsairs made simultaneous overhead runs on the target. There was a crashing impact as the planes collided, then both fell in long flaming streaks, ten thousand feet to the sea. No parachutes were seen.
The pilots involved were First Lieutenant William Gay and Captain William F. Lucas. Although neither man’s body was recovered, there was no question that both were dead.
Gunnery hops and interception drills were flown. Captain William F. LUCAS, USMCR, and 1st Lt. William GAY, USMCR, were killed in mid-air collision of their F4U-1 aircraft during a pratice gunnery hop. Planes collided while apparently making simultaneous overhead runs on a banner towed by an F4U-1. Both planes and pilots crashed into the sea forty-three (43) miles Northeast of Funafuti Airfield. Neither of the pilots or planes were recovered. Plane bureau numbers: 17585 & 17546.
– VMF-224 squadron journal, transcribed online
Next Of Kin Address
Wartime address of Mrs. Marguerite H. Lucas
Location Of Loss
Approximate location of the Gay/Lucas collision, 43 miles NE of Funafuti (Tuvalu)
Ann Francis Lucas, daughter of William Francis Lucas, was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 11, 1944, five months after Captain Lucas’ death. She married James Lawrence (Larry) Smith on July 4, 1964, in Jacksonville, Florida. She and Larry have five children, 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and are expecting a third great grandchild in September, 2021. They celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in 2021. Annie still has a loving memory of her father although she never met him.
What a nice way of memorializing your Dad!
Ann, I would really like to make contact with you again. I’d like to see if we can honor you father here at our local air museum.
I would like to connect with Ann Francis Lucas to give her a sterling silver men’s bracelet inscribed William F Lucas on front and on inside “All my love to my husband
Marguerite” it has a military insignia on the front. Bracelet is in good shape. I found it in a box of sewing notions I bought at a thrift store in Deland, FL. I have had it a few years, not sure how long, maybe five to ten years. If a family member sees this, they can also find me on Facebook.
I am the husband of Ann Francis Lucas Smith. Ann and I have been married for 60 years and live now in Jacksonville, Florida. Ann suffers from significant dementia but keeps many photos and remembrances of her father, William Francis Lucas. I am certain that she would love to see the bracelet described. I don’t think she has ever seen it. Thank you, Nancy Anderson for keeping it. You can contact me at 386-717-4558. Leave a voicemail and I will call back.