| Description
Ditched due to mechanical failure.
Free was making his approach to Yap, when he started having engine problems. He headed back towards the CV but ditched a couple of miles off of Yap & was P/U bo an OS2U.
VF-31 was launched for a strike on Yap island. Lt. (jg) Edwin Free made water landing 15 miles from Yap but was picked up and returned later in the day by the Destroyer USS Bell (DD 587). Lt. Mulcahy had to make a forced landing near the task force upon returning but was also picked up unharmed and returned to USS Cabot.
From Justin Taylan www.pacificwrecks.com: As Lt(jg), he was credited with a victory over a Tony on 9-13-44 over Legaspi,
Luzon. That's his only victory for the war.
From, "A History of the USS CABOT".
On 28 July, Lt. D. MULCAHY made forced
landing after strike on Yap. Also, Lt. (jg)
Edwin FREE made water landing 15 miles from
Yap but returned later by the USS Bell (DD 587
From the History of the USS CABOT
"24 July, the Group approaching Woleai
Island. Lt. (jg)? R. O. ZIMMERMAN made a
barrier crash landing with no personal injuries.
25 July, the Force bombed and strafed Ulithi
Atoll and on the 26th, TBM #1 missing from
strike on Yap, but picked up by USS Brown
(DD 546) and returned Lt. (jg) J. B. RUSSELL
and crewmen W. M. BENNETT, AMM2c and
H. M. WEBSTER, PhoMlc.
"On 28 July, Lt. D. MULCAHY made forced
landing after strike on Yap. Also, Lt. (jg)
Edwin FREE made water landing 15 miles from
Yap but returned later by the USS Bell (DD 587).
From: http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/books/cabot/cab03_05.htm
From the History of Fighter Squadron 31
VF-31 was again assigned for a strike on Yap island. Due to engine failure of his F6F (#40280), Lt. (jg) Edwin Free had to turn around and made a water landing 15 miles from Yap. He was picked up and returned later in the day by the Destroyer USS Bell (DD 587). Returning from the Yap Island strike Lt. Mulcahy was forced to ditch because of flack damage to his aircraft after returning to the task force but was picked up unharmed and returned to Cabot. http://www.vf31.com
A picture of Ens. Edwin Free can be viewed at:
http://www.vf31.com/pilots/vf-31.html
Please submit additional information.
| 
USN Bureau Report #40280
PIN IT