Sgt. Robert Francis Gallivan, USMCR
Flight 19 crewman on FT-117
Robert Francis Gallivan was born 3 July, 1924 in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was a Marine Staff Sergeant, veteran of the World War II battles at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Tarawa. From December 15, 1942, Robert was attached to Marine Squadron VMSB-143 as an airplane armorer and torpedo repairman, serving at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, in the Solomons Islands. Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 143 (VMSB-143) was nicknamed the Rocket Raiders by famed comic strip artist Alex Raymond who was made an honorary member of the unit, while serving alongside them in the Pacific War. He designed a new squadron patch inspired by his work, creating Flash Gordon. In 1943-44, after the Battle of Tarawa, Robert made his way to NAS Fort Lauderdale where he would train as a Gunner in the TBM/TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. On the fateful day of 5 December 1945 at NAS Fort Lauderdale, Robert (along with 13 other crewmen), was assigned to a training squadron of 5 Avenger aircraft that would be known as Flight 19. The squadron was to perform a routine navigation exercise, and mock bombing run over the Hen and Chickens shoals in the Bahamas, and then return to the NAS Fort Lauderdale. The planes never returned. Neither did a PBM Mariner rescue seaplane with 13 crewmen aboard, that was dispatched to search for their lost colleagues. In total, 6 aircraft and 27 men disappeared that afternoon. A massive search was organized, and nothing was found. Their disappearance launched one of the largest air and sea searches in history, and began the legend of the Bermuda Triangle. To this date, Flight 19 remains one of the great aviation mysteries. Sgt. Robert Francis Gallivan was the Gunner on FT-117. The Pilot was Capt George William Stivers Jr., USMC. The Radioman was Pvt. Robert Peter Gruebel, USMCR. The Aircraft was a TBM-1C with BuNo 73209. Robert was 21 years old. |
The following photographs, cablegrams, and anecdotes
were donated by Eric Lentner (Robert F. Gallivan was his uncle)
were donated by Eric Lentner (Robert F. Gallivan was his uncle)
- John Francis and Lorraine were Robert Gallivan's parents. Robert was the eldest of two children. His sister Lorraine (would become Eric Lentner's mom), was named after their mother.
- Robert was going to be discharged and released the following day (December 6, 1945), before his disappearance with Flight 19 on December 5, 1945.
- He was looking forward to return as a civilian (in time for Christmas), to his family in Massachusetts.
- Eric Lentner's older brother related that in the Spring and Summer of 1946 his Grandfather (John F. Gallivan) drove down to the Fort Lauderdale area all the way from Massachusetts, tirelessly looking for his son at random spots, bars, restaurants, and hangouts that his uncle (Sgt. Robert Gallivan), wrote about in his letters.
Flight 19 Project Research by Matthew J. Bloom,
Curated by Benjamin Walter-Range & Minerva Bloom
Curated by Benjamin Walter-Range & Minerva Bloom
- Flight 19 Complete Naval Report: Get the naval investigation from original microfilm, published in book form (proceeds go to Museum).
- Support Project Mariner: An Expedition of the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum.
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