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PFC Kenneth D Gillispie, Avenger Loss, March 16, 1945

PFC Kenneth D Gillispie

The following pictures were supplied by Don and Charlie Gillispie in memory of PFC. Kenneth D Gillispie. PFC Kenneth D Gillispie (gunner) and his pilot Lt. Joseph Crowley were shot down over Yap Island on March 16, 1945. They were flying a Marine Air Corps TBM-3 Grumman Avenger from VMTB-232 based on the island of Ulithi. The plane was shot down near the main Yap airstrip. PFC Kenneth D Gillispie body was recovered in 1948, however, Lt. Joseph Crowley is still listed as missing in action. View additional information about the March 16, 1945 loss over Yap. MORE

Don Gillispie brother spoke with someone from the VMTB-232 Association in the past and he was advsied that the CO's plane always dove in on the target first and his job was to count the number of planes that came out of the dive. He said that Crowley's plane (which was second to dive on the target) never came out of the dive and crashed near the end of the Japanese air strip. Someone from the squadron returned to Yap after the war and found what was left of the wreckage exactly where they said it was near the end of the runway. However, it was extremely overgrown with vegetation and it took them a while to find it.

Please submit additional information to: pat@missingaircrew.com

David Gillispie father of Kenneth Gillispie	David Gillispie and son Kenneth.	Kenneth D. Gillispie	Kenneth D. Gillispie baby picture
Kenneth Gillispie high school graduation	Kenneth Gillispie Diploma	Pearl Hagar mother of Kenneth D. Gillispie	Kenneth's mother Pearl Hagar Gilllispie-Kenny-girl friend and father David O. Gillispie.
Picture of Kenneth taken just before he went to his squadron.	Picture of Kenneth (left) with his half brother Russell taken on his last leave.	A telegram from Kenneth's mother to his half brother Russell.	A picture taken at the funeral of Kenneth.
Kenneth and sister Thelma	Kenneth Baby	Kenneth on a bike	Russell and Ralph Gillispie, little one Kenneth Gillispie and the other one is Ed Libby a half brother to Kenneth.
Kenneth Gillispie sister Thelma	Airstrip Falalop Island Ulithi	Falalop Island Ulithi Atoll	Kenneth Newspaper Article
Red Devil Squadron 232	War Diary

Crash Site Pictures from 16 September 1945

Click to enlarge the pictures.

Picture taken 16 September 1945. Yap Island grave of a crew member of VMTB-232 shot down on March 16, 1945 on Yap Island. the inscription reads: "To the memory of American pilots who died at the front."

Picture taken 16 September 1945. Wreckage of TBM belonging to VMTB-232 lost over Yap Island on March 16 1945.

Copyright Notice: All images and text on this website are protected by U.S. and International Copyright Law. No images or text should be copied, downloaded, transferred, or reproduced without the written consent of Patrick Ranfranz and the Missing Air Crew Project. Please email Pat at: pat@missingaircrew.com