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VP-84 Rescue At Sea

This story begins on June 11, 1943 when a PBY5 from Patrol Squadron 84, which was based in Iceland, was dispatched on a rescue mission. An RAF aircraft was shot down by a German U-boat. The RAF crew managed to escape their sinking aircraft and get into a life raft. Seven hours later a message was received advising base that the raft had been sighted and that a rescue attempt was to be made. The pilot of the PBY decided to risk a landing and try and rescue them. The sea was very rough and as the aircraft attempted to land a huge wave hooked a wing tip and swung the aircraft into an a joining wave splitting her bow wide open. The aircraft immediately started to sink and the crew launched two small life rafts and all hands boarded the rafts.

The RAF crew paddled over to offer what assistance they could but heavy seas soon separated them. The misery of freezing temperatures, wetness joined hunger and thirst and on the first evening two of the crew died. On the second day three more of the crew perished. The fourth day two more men died leaving only two survivors. On the seventh day a mine sweeper arrived at the scene and picked up the only survivor. The last crewmember to died did so about 1 hour before the last crewmember was rescued.

The sole survivor was my brother, Lionel F. Pelietier, ARMI/c, USN. When rescued he was almost dead from cold and exposure. He had lost 60 pounds during the ordeal. His feet were badly frozen and he spent many months in Naval Hospitals. He finally returned to active duty and reported for duty aboard the USS Atlanta. His feet however continued to deteriorated and he was Honorably discharged in 1946.

For his heroic action he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp. Heroism Medal, the Air Medal and received from the British Government. The Distinguish Flying Medal from King George which was presented to him by Lord Halifax at the British Embassy in Washington.

He was recently inducted into the Combat Aircrewman Roll of Honor aboard the USS Yorktown. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. His ordeal contributed to his early death for he never fully recovered. To me he was a real hero and there was also eight more hero's who did not survive who were with him on that raft. They gave their life for their country and for their British comrades. I have just recently learned that his crew has been given credit for the sinking of the German U-boat U640. The ironic conclusion to this story is that the crew they set out to rescue were all saved and the rescue crew all perished except one…Norm Pelietier

"VPB-21 Alumni Association Newsletter Summary Page"

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