I found a November 1945 document that states the Japanese took the American’s to his grave site. The document also shows they found his plane near the remains. I also found a 1947 graves document that states they had remains under the name MARTIN that were recovered yet he is still listed as MIA.
• ENS. DELBERT L MARTIN, 364035 • Entered the Service from: Indiana • 21 March 1945 • F6F-5 Hellcat • VF-12
VF-12 and VB-12 flew this mission from the Marine Air Base in Ulithi due to their carrier being damaged by a Japanese attack in the Ulithi harbor. They flew with a support package of Marine planes (F6F-5, TBM-3 and PBY-5A) from Casu-51 and VPB-23. Ens. Martin went into a dive with the other F6F-5 from VF-12 but never pulled out. It was not known whether he had been hit by AA, blacked out, or a structural failure caused the plane to crash near the Pelak harbor entrance on Gagil-Tomil, Yap.
posted
I found his middle name and his parents names and his home town;
Ens. Delbert LaRue Martin Parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Martin from Fountaintown, IN
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