An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Search team solves 61-year-old mystery

  • Published
  • By Maj. James R. Wilson
  • 939th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
PORTLAND, Ore --  A team of volunteer divers has finally answered a question that has troubled the family of a U.S. Navy aviator since his World War II bomber went down just south of the Oregon border.

The accident occurred Dec. 4, 1944, when the TBF-1 Avenger from Klamath Naval Air Station, Ore., carrying Lt. Robert Pinz and radioman David Herget, crashed into Clear Lake near Tulelake, Calif.

The Avenger was an American dive bomber aircraft introduced in 1942 and used by the Navy and Marine Corps.

Military officials tried to find the aircraft and its crew but were unsuccessful. Herget's body washed ashore several months later, but there was no sign of Lieutenant Pinz. Was the lieutenant still waiting to be recovered from the cockpit of his aircraft at the bottom of Clear Lake?

His surviving family got the answer July 8, 2006 - 61 years later; his remains are not with the wreckage.

"The family knew there was a chance we might not be able to recover Lieutenant Pinz's remains," said Capt. Chris Bernard of the 304th Rescue Squadron. "For them, it was more important that the wreckage was found and searched."

The Air Force Reserve Command unit at Portland first learned of the plight last year from local media coverage. The 304th organized a team of interested search-and-rescue experts based throughout the Pacific Northwest in hopes of shedding light on the mystery.

Using technology and decades of experience in dive operations, volunteers from the search team organized by the 304th RQS located the Avenger's engine and propeller Aug. 31, 2005.

The group returned to the lake several months later. This time, the group combed over the wreckage for several hours. They searched the cockpit area, flight controls, and the turret gun but found no trace of Lieutenant Pinz.

"At this point, there were a number of boats on the lake," Captain Bernard said. "Dive team members, family and friends of Lieutenant Pinz, 304th RQS members and others all had their boats anchored above the area where the wreckage was located. But after conferring with the team, we felt there was little chance of us locating his remains."

With the family's blessing, the group ended the search and instead held a memorial service for Lieutenant Robert Pinz.

The pastor from a local church delivered a eulogy for the fallen aviator. A family member released rose petals into the air which gently fell to the water. A wreath was placed on the lake in his honor. Afterwards, the group played taps while Captain Bernard and Staff Sgt. Terri Deimer, also of the 304th RQS, presented a folded flag to the surviving niece, Linda (Pinz) de Roo.

Mort Pinz, the lieutenant's 97-year-old brother, was unable to attend the recovery effort but wrote of a letter of thanks to the team.

"The Pinz Family would like to offer our sincere appreciation for all of your efforts and time spent on this quest," wrote Mr. Pinz in his letter to the team. "This has been something we have talked about for years but thought would never happen. My daughter and I thank you for making this possible."

At the site, the lieutenant's niece continued her role as ambassador for the Pinz family.

After laying the wreath on the water, Linda (Pinz) de Roo approached the captain and said, "This does it for me and for my family. I know Bobby appreciates this. He wants to stay where he's at." (AFRC News Service)