Second Lieutenant Jefferies was a pilot flying with VMF-224, part of the Cactus Air Force based out of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
30 August 1942 VMF-224 arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
On the morning of 05 September 1942, “Jeff” participated in an eight-plane strafing mission against Japanese barges landing infantry reinforcements near Visale. The Japanese returned fire with rifles and small arms, striking Jefferies’ fighter (F4F-4 BuNo 5047) in the engine. The Wildcat plowed into the water, exploding on impact.
No trace of Lieutenant Jefferies was seen after the crash, and he was “presumed definitely lost” upon the flight’s return to Henderson Field. He was officially declared dead on 06 September 1943.
Source: Missing Marines
05 September 1942 - "Two P-400’s took off at 0720 and sixF4F-4’s of VMF-224 at 0745, to bomb and strafe 15 motor launches (capacity about 75 men) attempting to land troops on the east coast of GUADALCANAL between VISALE and LEVERS PASS. Fourteen of the launches reached the shore but all were badly shot up and pilots estimated that 50% of the troops were casualties. 2nd Lt. Robert Jefferies, Jr., who piloted on of the F4F-4’s flew through heavy ground fire from small caliber machine guns and was seen to fall apparently out of control and crash into the sea." Source: WWII War Diaries - MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 23, FORWARD ECHELON, Report of Action 8/20/42 to 11/16/42, page 7.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, “For heroism and extraordinary achievement while attached to a Marine Aircraft Group in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on September 5, 1942.”
30 August 1942 VMF-224 arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
On the morning of 05 September 1942, “Jeff” participated in an eight-plane strafing mission against Japanese barges landing infantry reinforcements near Visale. The Japanese returned fire with rifles and small arms, striking Jefferies’ fighter (F4F-4 BuNo 5047) in the engine. The Wildcat plowed into the water, exploding on impact.
No trace of Lieutenant Jefferies was seen after the crash, and he was “presumed definitely lost” upon the flight’s return to Henderson Field. He was officially declared dead on 06 September 1943.
Source: Missing Marines
05 September 1942 - "Two P-400’s took off at 0720 and sixF4F-4’s of VMF-224 at 0745, to bomb and strafe 15 motor launches (capacity about 75 men) attempting to land troops on the east coast of GUADALCANAL between VISALE and LEVERS PASS. Fourteen of the launches reached the shore but all were badly shot up and pilots estimated that 50% of the troops were casualties. 2nd Lt. Robert Jefferies, Jr., who piloted on of the F4F-4’s flew through heavy ground fire from small caliber machine guns and was seen to fall apparently out of control and crash into the sea." Source: WWII War Diaries - MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 23, FORWARD ECHELON, Report of Action 8/20/42 to 11/16/42, page 7.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, “For heroism and extraordinary achievement while attached to a Marine Aircraft Group in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on September 5, 1942.”
Second Lieutenant Jefferies was a pilot flying with VMF-224, part of the Cactus Air Force based out of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
30 August 1942 VMF-224 arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
On the morning of 05 September 1942, “Jeff” participated in an eight-plane strafing mission against Japanese barges landing infantry reinforcements near Visale. The Japanese returned fire with rifles and small arms, striking Jefferies’ fighter (F4F-4 BuNo 5047) in the engine. The Wildcat plowed into the water, exploding on impact.
No trace of Lieutenant Jefferies was seen after the crash, and he was “presumed definitely lost” upon the flight’s return to Henderson Field. He was officially declared dead on 06 September 1943.
Source: Missing Marines
05 September 1942 - "Two P-400’s took off at 0720 and sixF4F-4’s of VMF-224 at 0745, to bomb and strafe 15 motor launches (capacity about 75 men) attempting to land troops on the east coast of GUADALCANAL between VISALE and LEVERS PASS. Fourteen of the launches reached the shore but all were badly shot up and pilots estimated that 50% of the troops were casualties. 2nd Lt. Robert Jefferies, Jr., who piloted on of the F4F-4’s flew through heavy ground fire from small caliber machine guns and was seen to fall apparently out of control and crash into the sea." Source: WWII War Diaries - MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 23, FORWARD ECHELON, Report of Action 8/20/42 to 11/16/42, page 7.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, “For heroism and extraordinary achievement while attached to a Marine Aircraft Group in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on September 5, 1942.”
30 August 1942 VMF-224 arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
On the morning of 05 September 1942, “Jeff” participated in an eight-plane strafing mission against Japanese barges landing infantry reinforcements near Visale. The Japanese returned fire with rifles and small arms, striking Jefferies’ fighter (F4F-4 BuNo 5047) in the engine. The Wildcat plowed into the water, exploding on impact.
No trace of Lieutenant Jefferies was seen after the crash, and he was “presumed definitely lost” upon the flight’s return to Henderson Field. He was officially declared dead on 06 September 1943.
Source: Missing Marines
05 September 1942 - "Two P-400’s took off at 0720 and sixF4F-4’s of VMF-224 at 0745, to bomb and strafe 15 motor launches (capacity about 75 men) attempting to land troops on the east coast of GUADALCANAL between VISALE and LEVERS PASS. Fourteen of the launches reached the shore but all were badly shot up and pilots estimated that 50% of the troops were casualties. 2nd Lt. Robert Jefferies, Jr., who piloted on of the F4F-4’s flew through heavy ground fire from small caliber machine guns and was seen to fall apparently out of control and crash into the sea." Source: WWII War Diaries - MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 23, FORWARD ECHELON, Report of Action 8/20/42 to 11/16/42, page 7.
He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, “For heroism and extraordinary achievement while attached to a Marine Aircraft Group in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on September 5, 1942.”
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
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