This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Ryan Mahana (Alcatraz)
to remember
Marine Capt William Francis Lucas.
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Contact Info
Home Town Columbus
Last Address 2218 Myra St. Jacksonville, Fla
MIA Date Nov 07, 1943
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Tuvalu
Location of Memorial Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
07 November Gunnery hops and interception drills were flown. Captain William F. LUCAS, USMCR, and 1st Lt. William GAY, USMCR, were killed in mid-air collision of their F4U-1 aircraft, during a pratice gunnery hop. Planes collided while apparently making simultaneous overhead runs on a banner towed by an F4U-1. Both planes and pilots crashed into the sea forty-three (43) miles Northeast of Funafuti Airfield. Neither of the pilots or planes were recovered. Plane bureau numbers: 17585 & 17546.
LUCAS, William F, CAPT, O-007955, USMC, from Indiana, location Ellice Islands, date of loss November 8, 1943 + LUCAS, William F, Captain, O-007955, USMC, from Indiana, Honolulu Memorial + LUCAS, William Francis, 7955, VMF-224, MAG-13, 4th MAW, FMF, Ellice Is, November 8, 1943, accidental death + LUCAS, William F., Captain, USMCR. Wife, Mrs. William F. Lucas, 2218 Myra St., Jacksonville, Fla
Capt William Francis Lucas, pilot, was declared Missing on 8 Nov 1943.
Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 224 was commissioned on 1 May 1942 at Barbers Point, Hawaii. Flying Grumman F4F Wildcats, the Bengals entered WWII as part of the vaunted Cactus Air Force stationed on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Led by Medal of Honor recipient Maj Robert Galer, the squadron accounted for over sixty Japanese aircraft being destroyed in less than two months. The squadron also conducted infantry support missions while under constant attack from Japanese Naval, Air, and Ground Forces. VMF-224’s superb performance contributed significantly to the American victory at Guadalcanal, which in turn, helped stem the tide of the Japanese advance across the Southern Pacific and secured a crucial foothold in the long island-hopping campaign to Japan.
After Guadalcanal, the squadron was refitted with the Vought F4U Corsair and participated in the Marshall Islands Campaign. The spring of 1945 found VMF-224 participating in the last great battle of the Pacific Campaign. Arriving on Okinawa one week after the battle had begun, the squadron operated for the duration of the campaign from the newly captured airfield at Yomitan. Throughout the desperate struggle for Okinawa, the Bengals flew infantry support and counter air missions accounting for an additional fifty-five enemy aircraft being destroyed.
1950s - 1970s
The squadron entered the jet era in 1951 with the acceptance of the McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee. In 1952, after completing a Mediterranean Cruise aboard the USS Roosevelt, the squadron accepted the Grumman F9F Panther, and was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 224 (VMA-224).
On September 29, 1956, the squadron became the first Marine unit to field the Douglas A4D Skyhawk aircraft. In 1965, the Bengals deployed to South Vietnam as part of the United States' buildup during the Vietnam War. For nearly a year the Bengals operated their “Scooters” from the expeditionary field at Chu Lai. On November 1, 1966, the squadron acquired the Grumman A-6 Intruder and was re-designated as Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 (VMA(AW)-224). In 1971, the Bengals deployed to the South China Sea aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). As part of Carrier Air Wing 15, the squadron completed six line periods on Yankee Station and participated in numerous operations including the historic Operation Pocket Money mining of Hai Phong Harbor.
The Gulf War & the 1990s
The Bengals deployed to Southwest Asia, on August 28, 1990. Operating from Shaikh-Isa Air Base, Bahrain the squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield. From January 16, to February 28, 1991, the Bengals participated in Operation Desert Storm, expending more than 2.3 million pounds of ordnance during 422 combat sorties.
Shortly after their return to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on May 24, 1992, the Bengals celebrated their 50th anniversary. Less than a year later on March 5, 1993, the squadron was re-designated VMFA(AW)-224 and moved to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina where the Bengals received the multi-mission F/A-18D Hornet.
From April to September 1994 the Bengals deployed to Aviano, Italy, as part of the United Nations force for Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The squadron flew 1150 sorties for 3485 flight hours including 1150 night hours. The Marines of VMFA(AW)-224 again deployed to Aviano, Italy in September 1995, as part of NATO Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Joint Endeavor.
Global War on Terror
On January 11, 2005, VMFA(AW)-224 deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While in support of OIF, the Bengals employed 65,225 lb of ordnance and flew over 2500 sorties and 7000 hours in direct support of Marine, Army and Coalition ground units.
