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Over the course of the war, twelve Enterprise pilots and aircrewmen were taken prisoner of war by the Japanese. Two were executed shortly after capture, eight were transported to and interned in Japan, and two were interned in Formosa and then executed.
Each man is listed below, with their rate and assigned unit at time of capture, and the date on which they were taken prisoner.
Note: There are reports that ENS John Cady Lough of VS-6 was taken prisoner on 4 June 1942 and executed on 6 June 1942. We are trying to confirm this and will update this page when the matter is clarified.
| 1942 | H. Dale Hilton (LT(jg) in VS-6) 4 March 1942 |
While piloting an SBD, was shot down and taken POW during an airstrike on Marcus Island, 4 March 1942. Interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Leaming (ARM 1/c in VS-6) 4 March 1942 |
LT(jg) Hilton's aircrewman. Interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. (Read Jack's account of his capture elsewhere on this site.) | |
| Frank W. O'Flaherty (ENS in VS-6) 4 June 1942 |
While piloting an SBD, ran out of fuel and ditched during the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942. Picked up by Japanese destroyer Makigumo, held for approximately 10 days, and executed by drowning on 15 June 1942. | |
| Bruno P. Gaido (AMM 1/c in VS-6) 4 June 1942 |
ENS O'Flaherty's aircrewman. Picked up by Japanese destroyer Makigumo, held for approximately 10 days, and executed by drowning on 15 June 1942. | |
| Albert E. Mead (ENS in VF-10) 27 October 1942 |
While piloting an F4F-4, was shot down during the Battle of Santa Cruz, 26 October 1942. Picked up by Japanese destroyer Kazegumo and interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. | |
| Raleigh E. Rhodes (LT(jg) in VF-10) 27 October 1942 |
While piloting an F4F-4, shot down during the Battle of Santa Cruz, 26 October 1942. Picked up by Japanese destroyer Kagero and interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. | |
| Thomas C. Nelson (ARM 1/c in VT-10) 27 October 1942 |
During the Battle of Santa Cruz, the TBF piloted by LCDR John A. Collett (commanding officer of VT-10) was shot down on 26 October 1942. Collett and aircrewman Stephen Nadison Jr. were killed in the crash. Nelson was captured by the Japanese destroyer Yugumo and interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. | |
| Michael M. Glasser (ARM 3/c in VT-10) 27 October 1942 |
During the Battle of Santa Cruz, the TBF piloted by ENS John M. Reed was shot down on 26 October 1942. Reed and aircrewman Morse G. Harrison were killed in the crash. Glasser was picked up by Makigumo and interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. | |
| 1944 | Fred P. Turnbull (LT(jg) in VF-20) 12 October 1944 |
While piloting an F6F, was shot down and taken POW during an airstrike on Formosa, 12 October 1944. Interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. |
| William F. Ross (LT(jg) in VT-20) 13 October 1944 |
While piloting a TBF, was shot down on 12 October 1944 during an airstrike on Formosa and taken POW the next day. Interned in Japan for the remainder of the war. | |
| Harry H. Aldro (ARM 2/c in VT-20) 13 October 1944 |
LT(jg) Ross's aircrewman. Interned in Formosa. Executed with 14 other Americans in a Formosa POW camp, 19 June 1945. | |
| Charles E. McVay (AOM 2/c in VT-20) 13 October 1944 |
LT(jg) Ross's aircrewman. Interned in Formosa. Executed with 14 other Americans in a Formosa POW camp, 19 June 1945. |
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