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Milton Vedder was a Ace having shot done 6 enemy airplanes. However, he was the only Hellhawk Ace that shot down planes during both the First and Second Combat Tours. On Aril 25, 1943, in an arial battle over Vangunu, New Georgia, he shot down two Zeros. On July 15, when the squadron intercepted a large bomber attack on the New Georgia group, he shot down three Bettys. On July 21 he shot down one Zero. On October 9, 1943, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
On April 25, in the same arial battle where he shot down two Zeros, he was shot down, parachuting out at 500 feet. He was picked-up by natives and cared for by cost watchers. See April 29, 1943, memo regarding 2nd Lt. Milton Vedder Combat and Escape Experiences from April 25, 26, & 27, 1943 from VMF-213 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VMF213/photos/a.326383314126314.69886.112817628816218/326383477459631/?type=3&theater . Also, see video entitled "PBY Rescues Downed USMC (VMF-213) Pilot Lt. Milton N. Vedder, 4/25/1943," at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr0iZaZdADA .
On April 25, in the same arial battle where he shot down two Zeros, he was shot down, parachuting out at 500 feet. He was picked-up by natives and cared for by cost watchers. See April 29, 1943, memo regarding 2nd Lt. Milton Vedder Combat and Escape Experiences from April 25, 26, & 27, 1943 from VMF-213 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VMF213/photos/a.326383314126314.69886.112817628816218/326383477459631/?type=3&theater . Also, see video entitled "PBY Rescues Downed USMC (VMF-213) Pilot Lt. Milton N. Vedder, 4/25/1943," at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr0iZaZdADA .
He returned to base on April 28. He had shrapnel injuries to his right leg. April 28th and 29th entries in the Flight Surgeon's log detail the injuries and treatment. A separate entry on a list of those injured noted "prolonged healing but good." He was returned to duty May 11.
On July 2, 1943, while on a Rendova partol, he experienced engine failure and bailed out of his plane. He was initially reported as missing but returned uninjured on July 5.
In addition to a bout with diarrhea and dysentary, Milton Vedder contracted malaria. He was on the "sick list" as the 3rd combat tour began and was noted as receiving anti-malarial treatment when he arrived at Guadalcanal on September 11, 1943. He eventual returned to active status on September 15.
In a separate entry regarding those falling ill to malaria, a note to Milton Vedder's entry stated "cause - probable subclinical until withdrawal from atabrine ppt. - also from 2nd tour." The reference to the second tour could be to both possible exposure and to the worn-down condition of the pilots during that tour. On July 19, Major Weissenberger and Flight Surgeon Livingood jointly requested "Fighter Command to ease duty on pilots"; However, "no relief was in sight for 10 days." On July 26, all pilots were grounded due to "combat fatigue."
Additionally, several entries regarding pilots with malaria noted that pilots stopped taking atabrine between tours. See the poem, Ode to the End of Time, for insight into atabrine and the environment.
On November 19, 1943, Milton Vedder reported physical and mental problems. Due to his condition he was hospitalized and did not return with his squadron to the United States.
Milton Vedder died on Febuary 11, 1944, of encephalitis. Official records, below, regarding his demise state that the "encephalitis that caused his death is considered to have resulted from malaria." His mental state described in the Flight Surgeon's Log are were consistent with encephalitis.
On July 2, 1943, while on a Rendova partol, he experienced engine failure and bailed out of his plane. He was initially reported as missing but returned uninjured on July 5.
In addition to a bout with diarrhea and dysentary, Milton Vedder contracted malaria. He was on the "sick list" as the 3rd combat tour began and was noted as receiving anti-malarial treatment when he arrived at Guadalcanal on September 11, 1943. He eventual returned to active status on September 15.
In a separate entry regarding those falling ill to malaria, a note to Milton Vedder's entry stated "cause - probable subclinical until withdrawal from atabrine ppt. - also from 2nd tour." The reference to the second tour could be to both possible exposure and to the worn-down condition of the pilots during that tour. On July 19, Major Weissenberger and Flight Surgeon Livingood jointly requested "Fighter Command to ease duty on pilots"; However, "no relief was in sight for 10 days." On July 26, all pilots were grounded due to "combat fatigue."
Additionally, several entries regarding pilots with malaria noted that pilots stopped taking atabrine between tours. See the poem, Ode to the End of Time, for insight into atabrine and the environment.
On November 19, 1943, Milton Vedder reported physical and mental problems. Due to his condition he was hospitalized and did not return with his squadron to the United States.
Milton Vedder died on Febuary 11, 1944, of encephalitis. Official records, below, regarding his demise state that the "encephalitis that caused his death is considered to have resulted from malaria." His mental state described in the Flight Surgeon's Log are were consistent with encephalitis.