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Dave Fish-Family
to remember
Marine Cpl John DeWitt Rood.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Berwick
Last Address Berwick
Casualty Date May 30, 1945
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Philippines
Location of Interment Fort Logan National Cemetery (VA) - Denver, Colorado
Corporal John D. Rood was assigned to Marine Bombing Squadron VMB-611 as a PBJ-1 ordinance/turret gunner. He flew as a crewmember under command of 1st. Lt. Doit L. Fish. VMB-611 was one of several Marine Bombing Squadrons commissioned at MCAS Cherry Point, NC in October 1943. They flew Navy PBJ-1 (B-25 Mitchell) medium bombers and trained at Cherry Point and then at MCAS Parris Island, SC. In August 1944, the squadron was transferred to San Diego, CA for deployment to the Pacific Theatre. VMB-611's first combat assignment was at Emirau Island as part of MAG-61. "Sarles' Raiders", as the squadron had come to be known, proved the effectiveness of Marine PBJs in close aerial support. Day and night missions to Rabaul, Kavieng, New Ireland, and the Solomon Islands involved missions at 1,500 to 10,000 feet. In March 1945, VMB-611 departed Emirau, having been transferred to Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippine Islands. Upon arrival at Moret Field, Zamboanga, VMB-611 was assigned to MAG-32, MAGSZAM. As the only Marine Bombing Squadron to operate in the Philippines during the war, VMB-611 provided medium and low-level air support to the Eighth Army and flew numerous missions against Japanese targets in the Sulu Archipelago and on Mindanao. Corporal Rood was reported missing in action on May 30, 1945 while on a regularly scheduled combat strike against enemy installations at the Kibawe Trail area near Davao, Mindanao. Word was received that Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Sarles' PBJ was missing, so the flight began a search of the area, but to no avail. Then the flight began making runs on the target when Lt. Fish's PBJ became missing. All efforts to locate Lt. Fish's aircraft and its occupants were unsuccessful and the crew was declared MIA. Lt. Fish's aircraft wreckage and crew skeletal remains were found on November 16, 1956 in the area the plane was reported missing. Although individual identification was impossible, it was confirmed that the remains were of Lt. Fish and his crew. A group burial of the eight Marines, with full military honors, was held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO on July 15, 1957.
Comments/Citation:
Cpl John Rood was my father's (Capt Doit Fish) PBJ-1 Top Turret Gunner/Ordinance Man. Cpl Rood was one of two crew member's Identification Braclet that was found at the crash site, which helped identifiy the wreckage and remains to be that of my father and his crew.
Note: The Report of Interment form QMC Form 14, states that the following crew were interred in a common grave:on 25 July 1957 in Fort Logan National Cemetery in Section N, Grave 38, Group Burial X-6029 PI:
Captain Doit L. Fish, Pilot
1stLt Donald C. Sculati, Co-Pilot
Captain Sigurd C. Simonson, Passenger/Observer
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Vorel, Navigator/Bombardier
Sergeant Robert L. Harrison, Radio/Waist Gunner
Corporal Chester D. Luberda, Radio/Waist Gunner Corporal John D. Rood, Turret Gunner/Ordnanceman
Corporal Walter G. Charboneau. Tail Gunner/Mechanic
