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| USN USS Columbia (CL-56) VCS-12 |
Aircraft History Built by Curtiss-Wright as Model 71. Constructors Number 12234. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SOC-2 Seagull bureau number 0420. Assigned to Cruiser Scouting Squadron 12 (VCS-12) aboard USS Columbia (CL-56). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Wartime History On January 3, 1943 at 5:05am while USS Columbia (CL-56) was steaming off Rennell Island, this Seagull on the port side stern catapult accidentally rolled off with AMM1c Anthony E Valerio, 2832080 aboard and landed upright in the sea and remained afloat. Rescue Two minutes later, escorting destroyer USS Drayton (DD-366) was dispatched to rescue the man overboard and sink the Seagull but was unable to find the them in the predawn darkness. At 6:02am at dawn, another plane spotted the Seagull and a life raft. At 6:04am rescued by destroyer. At 6:24am the Seagull was scuttled by the destroyer at roughly Lat 13° 11' S Long 164° 15' E then rejoined formation at 9:00am. Memorials Valerio died November 3, 2003 at age 84. He is buried at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA at section 31, site 1136. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SOC-2 Seagull 0420 "0420 fell off USS Columbia catapult and sunk by gunfire Jan 3, 1943" USN Loss List - SOC-2 Seagull 0420 FindAGrave - Anthony Eustace Valerio (grave photo) Contribute
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