Yap Island Mission Loss—23 February 1945

The following plane was lost on 23 February 1945 on a mission to Yap Island. I would greatly appreciate anyone's help to locate additional information regarding the information listed below.Submit additional information, updates, newpaper articles, pictures, and supporting documents to: pat@missingaircrew.com

Date:	Plane Type:	Unit:	Crew Names:	Supporting Documents:
23 February 1945	PBM-3D Martin Mariner	VPB-22 from Ulithi Island	Strawser, L.C., Ens., USNR Lamb, C.H., Ens., USNR Tadman, W.F., AMM!/c, USNR McMullen, J.P., ARM1/2 (T), USNR Fusco, L.C., ARM2/c (T), USNR Willig, R.P., ARM3/c, USR Walden, W.L., AMM3/c, USNR Thompson, I.E., AOM3/c, USNR Murray, T. H., S1/c, USN Carrico, O.L. AOM2/c, USNR Cannizzaro, R.J. AMM3/c, USNR The entire crew was picked up by the USS Alvin C. Cockrell (DE-366).	USN Bureau Report PBM-3D #45299
Description: The crew was picked up by the USS Alvin C. Cockrell (DE-366). The following was post by Bob Willig on the http://www.ussperry.com/seastory.htm web site: During WW2 I was a Flight Engineer and Gunner in VPB 22 we were flying a PBM Martin Mariner. Sat. Feb. 24, 1945 we went down off the Island of Yap, still a Jap held Island, in fact our squadron had been bombing Yap and Nagulu. It was 2:30 PM and were concerned we would drift on to the Island. At 12:01 AM (Midnight)being pitch dark we noticed a large blacker image several feet ahead, there were no lights as we were in enemy territory. It was the Alvin C Cockrel (DE366) and at day light we also saw the Manlove (DE36) taking part. We were taken on board the Cockrel by climbing large nets. During the operation a Shipmate fell overboard but fortunately was rescued. I keep thinking some day I will hear from one of the crew but time is getting short. Any one out there???? Bob Willig, Mechanicsburg Pa. 17055 Bob Willig Comments on August 13, 2006: The first pilot was Lt. Harold F. Strohoefer, pilot of the dead stick landing in the open sea. He is responsible for me being here today. Lt. Strohoefer who lived in Bayonne NJ, unfortunately passed away Oct. 7 1999. From http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de366.htm: Alvin C. Cockrell escorted convoys between Eniwetok, Guam, Saipan, Ulithi, and Kossel Roads, and, when required, served as harbor patrol and air-sea rescue vessel. She carried out her first air-sea rescue mission on 23 February 1945, when she sailed from Ulithi to go to the assistance of a Martin PBM-3D "Mariner" flying boat from Patrol Bombing Squadron 22 that had been forced down by engine trouble. Underway at 1008, Alvin C. Cockrell proceeded at flank speed, guided to the scene by a "dumbo" plane overhead. She put her whaleboat over the side as she neared the "Mariner," to take off the crew and attempt to take the aircraft in tow, and soon had seven of the nine enlisted men (two had remained on board to handle towlines), and the three officers from the crew on board. While the destroyer escort Manlove (DE-36) screened the operation, Alvin C. Cockrell managed to get the plane under two by 0910 the following day, after which time the destroyer escort set out for Ulithi. Unfortunately, soon after the remaining crewmen from the plane were taken on board, the towline parted Further attempts at salvage by Manlove proved fruitless and, ultimately, the "Mariner" (one wing of which had been damaged in the initial attempt to get a line to it) had to be sunk by gunfire. Please submit additional information.

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