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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Lieutenant
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Last Primary NEC
131X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Line Officer
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Primary Unit
1944-1944, 131X, VF-31 Tomcatters
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Service Years
1942 - 1944
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| Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Iwo Jima
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Personal Details
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Home State
Massachusetts | |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3
to remember
Loomis, Malcolm L, LT.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Shrewsbury, MA |
Casualty Date
Jul 04, 1944 |
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Cause
KIA-Died of Wounds |
Reason
Air Loss, Crash - Sea |
Location
Pacific |
Conflict
World War II |
Location of Interment
Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean |
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Last Known Activity:
Lieutenant Malcolm Lindsay Loomis
Service Number 176976
Killed In Action
Iwo Jima on the 4th of July, 1944
USS Cabot CVL-28, Air Group VT31
Lost at sea, body was not recovered
USS CABOT: World War II (1943-1944)
Cabot sailed from Quonset Point, Rhode Island with Air Group 31 aboard, on 8 November 1943 for Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on 2 December. Clearing for Majuro on 15 January 1944, she joined TF 58 to begin the consistently high quality of war service which was to win her a Presidential Unit Citation. From 4 February-4 March 1944, she launched her planes in strikes on Roi, Namur, and the island stronghold of Truk, aiding in the neutralization of these Japanese bases as her part in the invasion of the Marshalls.
Cabot returned to Pearl Harbor for a brief repair period, but was back in action from Majuro for the pounding raids on the Palaus, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai at the close of March 1944. She sailed to provide valuable air cover for the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) operation from 22–25 April, and 4 days later began to hurl her air power at Truk, Satawan, and Ponape. She cleared Majuro again on 6 June for the preinvasion air strikes in the Mariana Islands, and on 19 June and 20 June launched sorties in the key Battle of the Philippine Sea, the famous "Marianas Turkey Shoot", which hopelessly crippled Japanese naval aviation. Cabot's air group 31 pounded Japanese bases on Iwo Jima, Pagan, Rota, Guam, Yap and Ulithi as the carrier continued her support of the Marianas operation until 9 August. LTjg Loomis was killed during operations at Iwo Jima on the 4th of July, 1944.
In addition to the Presidential Unit Citation, USS Cabot received nine battle stars for World War II service. Loomis, an F6F pilot, was posthumous awarded the rank of full lieutenant, the Purple Heart, Air Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Air Medal citation
Lieutenant (jg) Malcolm L. Loomis
For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Carrier based Fighter Plane, attached to a Fighting Squadron in action against enemy Japanese forces in the central Pacific Area from January 16 to July 4, 1944. Taking a vital part in vigorous strikes against strongly fortified enemy installations at Truk, Lt. (jg) Loomis succeeded in scoring a direct hit upon dispersal areas at Eten Island with resultant damage to numerous planes parked in that section. Later participation in the invasion of the Marianas, he again pressed home a bold attack, inflicting severe damage upon buildings in the service area of Ushi AIrfield, Tinian Lt. (jg) Loomis's expert airmanship during this period of intense aerial activity, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Comments/Citation:
July 4, 1944:
The pilots of VF-31 were up at 0345 hours for breakfast and the briefing on the predawn patrol and strike on Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands. Three divisions, consisting of twelve F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft were launched from the USS Cabot at 0500 hours:
Division 1: LCDR Wallace, LTjg Nooy, LTjg Wilson, and LTjg Hancock.
Division 2: LT Mencin, LTjg Elezain, LTjg Loomis, and LTjg Osborne.
Division 3: LT Anderson, LTjg Duggins, LTjg McLaughlin
The pre dawn air assault on Iwo Jima on the 4th of July would result in the first casualties for VF-31. Three pilots would be lost on this mission. All three pilots were posthumously awarded Air Medals.
LTjg Haig G. Elezian, Jr., Service Number: 250593
LTjg Frank Hancock, Jr., Service Number: 263521
LTjg Malcolm L. Loomis, Service Number: 176976
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Reflections on LT Loomis's
US Navy Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
Volunteered as an aviator, WWII.
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Navy Cadet Training Program, then entered Naval Flight Training in August of 1942 then transferred to Corpus Christi NAS (Texas) in October of 1942. He graduated flight training, earned his wings, and was given his commission as an ensign in March 3, 1943.
His first squadron assignment was to the newly formed Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) in June of 1943. Ensign Loomis, along with the the other members Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) were ordered to combine with Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) at Atlantic City Naval Air Station in October of 1943, doubling the size of the fighter wing of Air Group 31.
Lt (jg) Loomis was part of Division 2 consisting of 4 hellcat fighter aircraft.
While with Division 2 of Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) aboard the USS Cabot Lieutenant (jg) Loomis participated in the battles of the Marshall Islands (January 29 to February 8 1944), in the battles of the Caroline Islands (February 16 - April 1 and April 29 - May 1 1944), in the battles for Hollandia (April 21 - 25 1944), in the battle of the Marianas (June 6 - 20 1944), and the 3rd Bonin Islands battle (July 4 1944) where he was killed in action against the enemy.
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IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
While with Division 2 of Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) aboard the USS Cabot Lieutenant (jg) Loomis participated in the battles of the Marshall Islands (January 29 to February 8 1944), in the battles of the Caroline Islands (February 16 - April 1 and April 29 - May 1 1944), in the battles for Hollandia (April 21 - 25 1944), in the battle of the Marianas (June 6 - 20 1944), and the 3rd Bonin Islands battle (July 4 1944). Loomis was killed at Iwo Jima on the 4th of July, 1944.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Malcolm L. LOOMIS, Lt(jg) VF31, Killed at the battle of Iwo Jima on the 4th of July, 1944. Enemy action.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Loomis, an F6F pilot, was posthumous awarded the rank of full lieutenant, the Purple Heart, Air Medal with Combat V and the World War II Victory Medal.
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HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
This is a remembrance profile: "In memory of MALCOLM L LOOMIS, 176976 LT USN" Killed in action on the 4th of July, 1944.
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