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Wow, they've been busy and productive!
View attachment 380975 Deen will be buried in his plane. The service on the fantail with the chaplain standing on the wing of the plane. In attendance, RADM Frederick C. Sherman, Task Group 38.3 commander, and David L. McDonald, XO of Essex and eventually CNO (1963–1967).Deck crewman has covered up Deen while a decision is being made what to do with the aircraft, which sustained heavy battle damage.
View attachment 380974 View attachment 380973 AMM2 Loyce Edward Deen
Birth: Apr. 21, 1921
Altus
Jackson County
Oklahoma, USA
Death: Nov. 5, 1944, At Sea
Served in Torpedo Squadron {Vt-15} USS Essex {CV-9}
Killed by anti aircraft fire over Manila Bay while serving as a Torpedo Plane gunner.
Has cenopath memorial
ABMC record:
Loyce E. Deen
Aviation Machinist's Mate, Second Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 6712310
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Oklahoma
Died: 5-Nov-44
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery
Manila, Philippines
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart - Buried at Sea
---------------
Loyce Edward Deen, an Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class, USNR, was a gunner on a TBM Avenger.
On November 5, 1944, Deen's squadron participated in a raid on Manila where his plane was hit multiple
times by anti-aircraft fire while attacking a Japanese cruiser.
Deen was killed. The Avenger's pilot, Lt Robert Cosgrove, managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex.
Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly that it was decided to leave him in it.
It is the only time in U.S. Navy history (and probably U.S. military history) that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action
Loyce Edward Deen, Aviation Machinist Mate (Gunner) 2nd Class buried at sea in Avenger