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This is silent film footage of a single engine Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber that's just returned and landed on its carrier from a mission against Japanese warships around the Philippines. It landed on the US fleet carrier Essex, but only the pilot and radioman survived the mission, with the rear gunner having been killed by the large, powerful 40mm shells, piercing his glass turret cover.
It seems his body was destroyed, so they used various objects to shield him from view of the camera and the ship's crew. So the crew decided to just leave his body in his Gunner's position in the plane, and push the plane over the back of the carrier, into the sea, while a large ceremony took place just before the plane was pushed overboard.
It seems his body was destroyed, so they used various objects to shield him from view of the camera and the ship's crew. So the crew decided to just leave his body in his Gunner's position in the plane, and push the plane over the back of the carrier, into the sea, while a large ceremony took place just before the plane was pushed overboard.