Airplane tail gunner had to be buried at sea still locked in airplane due to ongoing combat. Man from the video is identified and interviewed about that day all these years later. Really got to me for some reason.

I'm going to to try and get in touch with that vet! My uncle was there that day on Essex (and all the way until mid-February 1946).

Ironically, he was assigned to her crew 79 years ago today (Christmas Eve 1943).

Here's his diary entry for 5 November 1944, when Loyce Deen was killed.

Quote:

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Nov.5 - Launched VF sweep and strike at 0500. Target for 38.3 is Nichol's field and Manila bay, for 38.1 and 38.2 Clark field and Manila bay. We had weak air opposition but 38.1 & 2 got 25 in air more than 100 on ground. 38.3 got 10 in air and 15 on ground. About 1030 several raids came in but were intercepted and broke up. Some Japs got into disposition. About 1400 more bogies came in and the Lexington was hit on Stbd. side aft of island structure by Jap dive bomber in suicide crash. This ceremony is becoming very popular with the Japs. Fire on the Lex was quickly extinguished but there were 41 killed and 126 injured. The Exec. was injured; the comm. officers & assistant were among those killed. The Lex VF & VB commanders failed to return from strikes over Luzon (Manila). Another Jap attempted a suicide dive on Ticonderoga a few minutes later but missed slightly her Stbd. bow by few feet. We stayed in condition One Easy all nite. Launched 3 additional strikes during day. Sent VFN over Manila to heckle Japs during night. Our VFN got a Betty; Independence VFN, two Topsy's, Wasp VFN, one unidentified plane. Cmdr. McCampbell Nov. 6 Continued hitting Luzon got two more Nips during day to make his score 32--Maj. Bong had 33 on last count. One of the VT gunners came in with his head completely shot off. The plane with gunner was pushed over the stern

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The strikeouts in the text are as he recorded it in his diary. He passed in 1990, back before I ever knew to ask him about this event.

However, I'm friends with the pilot's son, and have shared this and the following videos with him.

Note, for a little more context, here's that same channel's story about Cosgrove's, Denzek's, and Deen's fateful mission on 5 November 1944:

Here's more about Loyce Deen. Note, I sent the page owner a correct VT-15 squadron patch, but he hasn't updated it yet.

Note, both videos have LOTS of errors and historical inaccuracies. But I guess it's the thought that counts.