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VII. ATTACHMENTS: Detailed Specific Findings of P-MAN
IV and Related Subjects
Introductory Note: The P-MAN IV expedition
generated a lot of information in a non-linear manner – by which
I mean is that we typically explored more than one site in any given day
and revisited sites according to need, weather and opportunity. Since
this apparent chaos does not lend itself to a cohesive chronological review,
I have decided to pool descriptions by event and not by date. Each section
does mention the dates upon which that particular event occurred and I
have attempted to link related events by reference.
ATTACHMENT 1:
Finding and identifying one new WWII U. S. Corsair fighter
crash site, 18-19 April 02
Prior to this search, I had Joe contact
Elechong, our guide to LTGEN Inoue’s jungle HQ during P-MAN II, about
his taking us to an aircraft crash site he had reported finding while
hunting in his nearby jungles. On the 18th, it had already begun raining
as we departed Koror by van into the interior of Babeldaob. We left behind
the only paved road early on and began making the most of our two-wheel
drive over the now very slippery road. Van-eating ruts and thick, red
mud required Clem, at the wheel, to race from the top of each hill to
the top of the next to prevent getting stuck – each time bouncing
all of us off the ceiling.
 Sliding
to a halt in the village of Ibabong on northern Ngatpang, we picked up
Elechong who quickly led us to the head of a hunter’s trail. We hiked
in through moderate jungle, slick from the ongoing rain. In less than
30 minutes, after cresting a hill, he pointed forward. Immediately we
saw large amounts of aircraft debris over a 50x100-yard area within a
small valley, transected by a streambed. Most of the debris concentrated
within a 30-yard radius in the center of this field. The type was immediately
determined to be a Corsair. It must have exploded violently on impact
because the massive R2800 18-cylinder round engine had broken up into
small pieces and spread across the field. Near the top of one of the hills,
we found the Corsair’s tail section sitting vertically with the horizontal
stabilizers up in the air, forming what almost looked like a cross overlooking
the crash site. As we began a preliminary sweep of the area in the continuing
rain, the hillside turned into mud. Every one of us began sliding down
the hill, which might have otherwise been fun, had it not been for the
field full of shrapnel waiting to impale those not able to gain sufficient
traction.
 Flip
Colmer made the first important discovery: a crumpled piece of aluminum
with what looked like the painted number “807”. Bill Belcher
a few minutes later found the confirmatory “807” on another
part near the empennage (ATT1.b). We mapped our findings as best we could.
Dripping wet and covered in mud, we gathered for a photograph just before
the camera fogged over (ATT1.a). We could do no more and agreed to return
in the morning to complete the field search and to hold flag ceremonies
in honor of an American aviator, as yet unidentified, but who unquestionably
flew a Corsair with the last three numbers of the BuNo being “807”.
When we got back to the van, I immediately pulled out my list of missing
aircraft and discovered that on 10MAR45 LT James Misley of VMF-122 had
been seen to crash into the jungles of Babeldaob. His Corsair’s BuNo
was 57807.
The next day we returned to Ibabong,
this time by boat and with Jim Nelson. As the son of MAJ Nelson, commander
of LT Misley’s squadron, Jim agreed to act as VMF-122’s ceremonial
representative to receive the American flag, pending delivery to afamily
member, if found. The rain had stopped and we completed our field diagram.
We believe that this site has been visited before, although not in a long
time. We found an undated beer bottle with the label “Dianippon Brewery”
near the cockpit area. Joe found a rusted .50 cal machine gun, unusual
because the Japanese and the American military typically removed armament
from a crash site.
All of us found the standing tail section
odd. Bill Belcher suspected that it might have been intentionally placed
in a vertical position as a tribute – but by whom? No record exists
that Americans ever found this site, Elechong is not aware of other Palauans
who know of the site and the Japanese would have no such motivation: it
is unlikely that we will ever know. We found no human remains.
The day ended with two flag ceremonies.
We all gathered around the Corsair’s empennage and I said some words
in respectful remembrance of LT Misley. We stood with the unfurled American
flag along the steep muddy hill in the middle of the dense, wet jungle
in Ngatpang State on the island of Babeldaob in the Palau Islands, far,
far from Jim Misley’s home. At the end of the ceremony, Flip and
Bill folded the flag and delivered it to Jim Nelson for safekeeping (see
masthead photo).
On 13 and 14 September 02, Jim Nelson,
Val Thal, Jennifer Powers, Dan O'Brien and Pat Scannon met with the VMF-122
reunion group in Pensacola, FLA and presented the results of our findings
while Tropical Storm Hannah raged outside our hotel. All of the seven
former Corsair aviators remembered Jim Misley well and shared many stories
with us. We all got to know Jim Misley a little on that stormy day.
The P-MAN IV team also had the honor
of being photographed with Explorers Club Flag # 103 at this crash site.
In summary, we now know the following.
On 18APR02, with the help of our guide Elechong, the P-MAN IV team located
and identified the crash site of a USMC Corsair, BuNo 57807, flown by
LT James Misley from Mt. Shasta, CA, who was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft
fire on 10 March 45 and crashed into the jungles of Babeldaob in Ngatpang
State.
Based on interviews I have had with members
of VMF-122 both before and after the expedition, I have been able to assemble
some additional information about that day. According to COL Gene Morrison,
USMC (Ret), who flew on the same mission that day, LT Misley was leading
his (two-plane) section with Major FE Pierce along the east side of Babeldaob,
while then-LT Morrison was flying on the west side with his wing man.
LT Misley spotted something, possibly a large anti-aircraft gun, in the
jungle to the west of his position. COL “Mo” Morrison remembers
LT Misley as an excellent and aggressive pilot. So it was not unexpected
that LT Misley immediately banked and dove toward this now-exposed enemy
position. What he could not have known was that he was diving on the jungle
headquarters of LTGEN Inoue Sadae, the hills around which were studded
with numerous AAA sites.
COL Morrison remembers seeing Misley’s
Corsair pull out after the dive, followed by a stall, falling over onto
his left wing into the jungle-covered hills. He saw no explosion. Upon
reviewing LT Misley’s Individual Deceased Personnel Form (IDPF),
I have inferred that the Japanese military most likely buried his remains
shortly after the crash, possibly some distance from the crash site. These
remains were exhumed after the war by the US Graves Registration Unit
(without mention of the crash site) but were not initially identified
as those of LT Misley. By 1949, dental record comparisons had established
identity and his listed next-of-kin, his mother, was notified. Then-LT
Dan “Cub” Callis, also of VMF-122 has told me that he shared
a tent with LT Misley. He clearly remembers his surprise on finding out
during a telephone call with Misley’s mother after the war that his
tentmate’s remains had been located.
LT James Misley is buried in Golden Gate
Cemetery, San Bruno, CA. To date, I have not been able to locate any of
his family members.
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