Delmar Dean Wiley USN

Foil: 7 Panel: 3 Column: 3 Line: 29

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Dennis Nutting

Delmar served during WWII from July 2, 1940 until December 4, 1945. After Boot Camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station he was assigned to the U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5) on 4 December 1940. He later transferred to Torpedo Squadron Five on 4 January 1941 for duty attached to the Yorktown.
During duty on Yorktown, Delmar was involved in The Raid on the Marshal Islands, the Raid on Lae (New Guinea), the Raid on Tulagi (near Guadalcanal), the Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. He was with VT-5 on the Yorktown until 4 June 1942. Delmar left the Yorktown during the Battle of Midway by swimming.
Delmar then transferred to VT-3 on 26 June 1942 and was attached to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6). During his duty with VT-3 on the Enterprise, he was involved in Air Support for Marine Landings on Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942.
On August 24,1942, while attacking an enemy cruiser, Delmar's aircraft was shot down and the pilot and bombardier were killed, he was the only survivor. He was badly injured, but was able to get into the rubber raft and after 15 days drifted to a group of very small islands near Buka. There he lived among the wonderful island people who nursed and cared for him until early April 1943. Then, in the company of several Army Air Corp personnel who had subsequently drifted to the island, Delmar was able to paddle and sail an outrigger canoe to the Island of Choiseul. There, they found two coastwatchers who arranged for them all to be picked up by a PBY and returned to Guadalcanal.
He was officially listed as MIA from 24 August 1942 until 24 April 1943. (8 months)
Delmar returned home to Glenwood, Iowa, for 30 days of leave and then checked into the Hospital at Great Lakes. There he was treated for Malaria and had surgery to remove some shrapnel from his right leg. The large wound in his right thigh was considered to be un-repairable.