MILLER-WILLIAM

KILLED  IN  AIR  COMBAT  WITH  JAPANESE

PEARL  HARBOR - 12/7/1941

The carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) departed Pearl Harbor on November 28, 1941, to deliver Marine Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) to Wake Island.  On the return voyage to Pearl Harbor the ship was delayed because of weather and on the morning of December 7, 1941, as was the usual custom, nine pairs of planes departed early in the morning to fly to Ford Island to await the ship’s arrival later that day.  The flight of SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6), included SBD-3, BUNO number 4570 6-S-4, piloted by LT Clarence Earle Dickinson Jr. who was accompanied in the rear radioman/gunner’s seat by RM1 William Cicero Miller.  Their aircraft never made it.  As usual, the planes of VS-6 performed routine search patrols directly in front of the ship’s advance in an arc out to about 150 miles.

During their patrol, they were accompanied by SBD 6-S-9, another plane from VS-6.  As the two planes approached Oahu at an altitude of 1,500 feet about 8:25am, they became aware of smoke from the island which they assumed was from burning sugar cane fields.  They were puzzled to see numerous shell splashes in the water by the entrance to Pearl Harbor as well as numerous antiaircraft burst above Pearl Harbor.  As they climbed to 4,000 feet nearing their destination they were unexpectedly attacked by Japanese planes and quickly realized that Pearl Harbor was under attack.  As they were attacked, both planes quickly dove to 1,000 feet as they headed toward Pearl Harbor.  The attackers concentrated their fire on 6-S-9 and it was seen to catch fire before crashing to the ground as one of its occupants was observed to parachute to apparent safety.  During this time 6-S-4 found it was being pursued by 3 to 5 enemy fighters. 

As the engagement began, RM1 Miller activated his machine gun and began returning fire.  As his plane dove, Miller reportedly said, “Mr. Dickinson, I have been hit once, but I think I have got one of those sons of bitches.”  When he glanced rearward, LT Dickinson saw a Japanese plane on fire losing altitude and speed.  This became possibly the first naval aerial victory of the war.  Several minutes later Miller informed Dickinson that he had expended all six cans of his ammunition and very shortly thereafter Miller was heard to let out a loud scream.  Further attempts by Dickinson to contact Miller were unsuccessful. 

The attacks continued, and Dickinson could only watch helplessly as holes began appearing in his wings.  Amazingly, he was not hurt although his ankle was nicked and there were horizontal cuts in his sock.  Soon his plane was on fire and he lost all control of his plane which started to spin.  Dickinson called for Miller to bail out and he jumped at an altitude of about 800 feet.  Dickinson landed alone and unhurt near Ewa Field, but Miller did not get out of the plane and was presumably killed by gunfire during the engagement.

William Cicero Miller was born on July 18, 1919, in Thomasville, North Carolina.  He enlisted in the Navy on October 20, 1937, and following recruit training in Norfolk, Virginia, he was assigned to Scouting Squadron Six on September 30, 1938.  About April 1941, Miller became the rear-seat man for LT Dickinson and in the ensuing months the two reportedly became an efficient pilot/radioman team.  RM1 Miller became one of the first naval airmen to be killed in aerial combat during World War Two.  He is buried next to his parents at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Thomasville, North Carolina, where his grave marker carries the inscription:  KILLED IN PEARL HARBOR DEC. 7, 1941.  In his honor, the USS William C. Miller (DE-259) was commissioned in July 1943, was present in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, when the Japanese signed the surrender agreement, and received seven battle stars for her war service before being decommissioned in December 1945.

LT Dickinson continued his flying duties during the war, was awarded three Navy Cross medals for his actions, and eventually retired with the rank of Rear Admiral.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)