On Sept. 10, 1944, a TBM-1C Avenger aircraft with three crew members onboard took off from the U.S.S. Enterprise in the Philippine Sea for a strike mission against Japanese forces in the Palau Islands. The torpedo bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and was reportedly last seen spinning violently before crashing into the sea near Malakal Island. All three of its crew were lost in the incident including Aviation Radioman First Class Wilbur Archie Mitts who was 24 years old.