PFC Paul F. McCleaf enlisted on 16 November 1942. He was in the Pacific Theater in September 1943 with his Marine Scout Bombing Squadron, entering combat operations in January 1944.
He served as a radio gunner aboard an SBD-5 with VMSB-341, MAG-21, 2nd MAW based at Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
He was listed as missing on 14 January 1944 near Rabaul, East New Britain during a large scale strike on the Japanese forces at Rabaul. Two SBD "Dauntless" aircraft were lost on the mission from VMSB-341. His aircraft was SBD-5 (Bu No. 35230)
Both pilot. 1st Lt. Harold R. Tuck, USMCR, and his radio gunner, PFC Paul F. McCleaf, USMCR, spun in and were lost when another aircraft clipped off the tail of their aircraft over St. George's Channel.
It is known that at least PFC McCleaf was taken prisoner by the Japanese. It's also known that he was one of the at least 31 American and Australian servicemen murdered by the Japanese on 5 March 1944, while being held at the Tunnel Hill site, Rabaul POW Camp, New Britain 4-152.)
The following was found in Lt. Harold R. Tuck's {Memorial 56785992} personal Flight Log book: "Tuck's plane was seen to go into a spin 2 1/2 mi. north of Tavui Pt. New Britain while approaching target. Tail of his plane was missing, due to an undetermined cause. PFC Paul F McCleaf was his gunner.
He served as a radio gunner aboard an SBD-5 with VMSB-341, MAG-21, 2nd MAW based at Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
He was listed as missing on 14 January 1944 near Rabaul, East New Britain during a large scale strike on the Japanese forces at Rabaul. Two SBD "Dauntless" aircraft were lost on the mission from VMSB-341. His aircraft was SBD-5 (Bu No. 35230)
Both pilot. 1st Lt. Harold R. Tuck, USMCR, and his radio gunner, PFC Paul F. McCleaf, USMCR, spun in and were lost when another aircraft clipped off the tail of their aircraft over St. George's Channel.
It is known that at least PFC McCleaf was taken prisoner by the Japanese. It's also known that he was one of the at least 31 American and Australian servicemen murdered by the Japanese on 5 March 1944, while being held at the Tunnel Hill site, Rabaul POW Camp, New Britain 4-152.)
The following was found in Lt. Harold R. Tuck's {Memorial 56785992} personal Flight Log book: "Tuck's plane was seen to go into a spin 2 1/2 mi. north of Tavui Pt. New Britain while approaching target. Tail of his plane was missing, due to an undetermined cause. PFC Paul F McCleaf was his gunner.
PFC Paul F. McCleaf enlisted on 16 November 1942. He was in the Pacific Theater in September 1943 with his Marine Scout Bombing Squadron, entering combat operations in January 1944.
He served as a radio gunner aboard an SBD-5 with VMSB-341, MAG-21, 2nd MAW based at Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
He was listed as missing on 14 January 1944 near Rabaul, East New Britain during a large scale strike on the Japanese forces at Rabaul. Two SBD "Dauntless" aircraft were lost on the mission from VMSB-341. His aircraft was SBD-5 (Bu No. 35230)
Both pilot. 1st Lt. Harold R. Tuck, USMCR, and his radio gunner, PFC Paul F. McCleaf, USMCR, spun in and were lost when another aircraft clipped off the tail of their aircraft over St. George's Channel.
It is known that at least PFC McCleaf was taken prisoner by the Japanese. It's also known that he was one of the at least 31 American and Australian servicemen murdered by the Japanese on 5 March 1944, while being held at the Tunnel Hill site, Rabaul POW Camp, New Britain 4-152.)
The following was found in Lt. Harold R. Tuck's {Memorial 56785992} personal Flight Log book: "Tuck's plane was seen to go into a spin 2 1/2 mi. north of Tavui Pt. New Britain while approaching target. Tail of his plane was missing, due to an undetermined cause. PFC Paul F McCleaf was his gunner.
He served as a radio gunner aboard an SBD-5 with VMSB-341, MAG-21, 2nd MAW based at Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
He was listed as missing on 14 January 1944 near Rabaul, East New Britain during a large scale strike on the Japanese forces at Rabaul. Two SBD "Dauntless" aircraft were lost on the mission from VMSB-341. His aircraft was SBD-5 (Bu No. 35230)
Both pilot. 1st Lt. Harold R. Tuck, USMCR, and his radio gunner, PFC Paul F. McCleaf, USMCR, spun in and were lost when another aircraft clipped off the tail of their aircraft over St. George's Channel.
It is known that at least PFC McCleaf was taken prisoner by the Japanese. It's also known that he was one of the at least 31 American and Australian servicemen murdered by the Japanese on 5 March 1944, while being held at the Tunnel Hill site, Rabaul POW Camp, New Britain 4-152.)
The following was found in Lt. Harold R. Tuck's {Memorial 56785992} personal Flight Log book: "Tuck's plane was seen to go into a spin 2 1/2 mi. north of Tavui Pt. New Britain while approaching target. Tail of his plane was missing, due to an undetermined cause. PFC Paul F McCleaf was his gunner.
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