2nd/Lt. Melvin R. Nawman Solomon Is, November 2, 1942, killed in action
Unit: Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB132, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force
Home: Oakland, California.
Service ID: 11855.
Entered the service from California.
Awards: Air Medal posthumously, World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart
Details of career here.
Nawman attended the University of Utah prior to his enlistment July 7 1941 in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Shortly there after he qualified for flight training and July 27 1942 earned his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant. Attached to a Scout‑Bombing Squadron VMSB‑32, he arrived at Henderson Field October 30 in the midst of the bitterly contested struggle for Guadalcanal Island. Three days later he died attempting to stop the "Tokyo Express" from landing additional reinforcements. The gallantry of this volunteer mission was recognized through a posthumously awarded Air Medal.
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB) 232 and commanded by Major Richard C. Mangrum, would be flown to the airstrip on Guadalcanal from a carrier. Both squadrons lacked carrier experience; nearly all the pilots were fresh from flight school. The veteran Japanese naval pilots were highly experienced.
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On 2 November 1942, a strike was organized to attack a fleet of Japanese warships approaching Guadalcanal. 2Lt. Melvin R. Nawman and Pvt. Vito P. LaGioia, Radioman/gunner, were among the Marines who volunteered for the mission. Three SBD Dauntless bombers departed Henderson Field at 1800 hours – and none returned. Nawman and LaGioia were reported as missing in action.
SBD-3 Bureau Number 03210 – VMSB-132
Second Lieutenant Melvin Rollie Nawman
Private Vito Peter LaGioia
This aircraft was found wrecked on Santa Isabel Island in April, 1943. The remains of the pilot were buried nearby, recovered after the war and later repatriated to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
No trace of Private LaGioia was found, and on 3 November 1943, he was declared dead.
USS Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was recommissioned from 1951 to 1960. The destroyer escort was named in honor of Melvin Rollie Nawman who died attempting to stop the "Tokyo Express" from landing additional reinforcements on Guadalcanal. The gallantry of this volunteer mission was recognized through a posthumously awarded Air Medal.
2nd/Lt. Melvin R. Nawman Solomon Is, November 2, 1942, killed in action
Unit: Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB132, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force
Home: Oakland, California.
Service ID: 11855.
Entered the service from California.
Awards: Air Medal posthumously, World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart
Details of career here.
Nawman attended the University of Utah prior to his enlistment July 7 1941 in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Shortly there after he qualified for flight training and July 27 1942 earned his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant. Attached to a Scout‑Bombing Squadron VMSB‑32, he arrived at Henderson Field October 30 in the midst of the bitterly contested struggle for Guadalcanal Island. Three days later he died attempting to stop the "Tokyo Express" from landing additional reinforcements. The gallantry of this volunteer mission was recognized through a posthumously awarded Air Medal.
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB) 232 and commanded by Major Richard C. Mangrum, would be flown to the airstrip on Guadalcanal from a carrier. Both squadrons lacked carrier experience; nearly all the pilots were fresh from flight school. The veteran Japanese naval pilots were highly experienced.
~
On 2 November 1942, a strike was organized to attack a fleet of Japanese warships approaching Guadalcanal. 2Lt. Melvin R. Nawman and Pvt. Vito P. LaGioia, Radioman/gunner, were among the Marines who volunteered for the mission. Three SBD Dauntless bombers departed Henderson Field at 1800 hours – and none returned. Nawman and LaGioia were reported as missing in action.
SBD-3 Bureau Number 03210 – VMSB-132
Second Lieutenant Melvin Rollie Nawman
Private Vito Peter LaGioia
This aircraft was found wrecked on Santa Isabel Island in April, 1943. The remains of the pilot were buried nearby, recovered after the war and later repatriated to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
No trace of Private LaGioia was found, and on 3 November 1943, he was declared dead.
USS Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was recommissioned from 1951 to 1960. The destroyer escort was named in honor of Melvin Rollie Nawman who died attempting to stop the "Tokyo Express" from landing additional reinforcements on Guadalcanal. The gallantry of this volunteer mission was recognized through a posthumously awarded Air Medal.
Inscription
2LT, US MARINE CORPS WORLD WAR II
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