This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Dave Fish-Family
to remember
Marine Capt Doit L Fish.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Casey
Last Address Bement
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
In response to the Marine Corps need for medium bomber for night heckling, close air support, and low level bombing and strafing, they started receiving B-25 Billy Mitchell bombers from the Army. They were immediately designated as PBJ’s, using the Navy aircraft designation system. Pilots that were to be assigned to the newly formed medium bomber squadrons received an eight-week training course in Operational Training Squadron (OTS 8) at Cherry Point and Edenton, N.C. As squadrons became operational, further training was conducted at Cherry Point, Edenton and Peterfield Point, N.C., Page Field, S.C., and North Island, CA.
Chain of Command Lt Col George A Sarles, Commanding Officer of VMB 611.
Other Memories In August 1944, VMB 611 was transferred to the MCAD, Miramar, San Diego, CA for deployment to the South Pacific. Half the flight crews and their PBJ-1 aircraft departed for Hawaii aboard the Escort Carrier USS Manila Bay. The other half of flight crews and the entire ground support crew departed from Port Hueneme, CA on September 26 aboard the "rust bucket" SS Zoella Lykes.
Before his September 26 deployment, Dad received an emergency leave to return to Decatur, IL to see his newborn son, David, born on August 28, 1944.
