This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Ryan Mahana (Alcatraz)
to remember
Marine 1stLt William Mundell Gay.
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Contact Info
Home Town Wichita Falls
Last Address 1708 Fillmore St. Wichita Falls, Tex
MIA Date Nov 07, 1943
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Tuvalu
Location of Memorial National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (VA) - 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.
GAY, William M. 1st Lieutenant, USMCR. Father, Mr. William R. Gay, 1708 Fillmore St., Wichita Falls, Tex + GAY, William Mundell, 21215, VMF-224, MAG-13, 4th MAW, FMF, Ellice Islands, November 8, 1943, accidental death + GAY, William Mundell, First Lieutenant, O-021215, USMC, from Texas, Honolulu Memorial + GAY, William M, 1STLT, O-021215, USMC, from Texas, location Ellice Islands, date of loss November 8, 1943
1stLt William Mundell Gay, pilot, was declared Missing on 8 Nov 1943.
