Unforgettable Tribute: Loyce Deen Becomes First Aviator Buried at Sea

The U.S. Navy honored a fallen hero in a unique ceremony during World War II. In a poignant episode of the 1953 documentary series “Victory at Sea,” viewers witnessed the burial at sea of Loyce Edward Deen, a 23-year-old aviation machinist mate. Deen became the first and only aviator interred within his plane after it was severely damaged in combat. The decision to bury him in this manner stemmed from the condition of his TBM Avenger, which was too badly damaged to remove him safely.

Deen was born in Altus, Oklahoma, and faced numerous personal tragedies during his early life. At just 13 years old, he lost his younger brother to a sudden illness, and shortly after, his mother suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed. Deen and his surviving brother cared for their mother until her death a month later. Following high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps but had aspirations of serving in the Navy. Less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted and completed basic training in San Diego.

In a reflective interview from 2015, Deen’s niece, Bertha Deen Sullivan, recalled their last moment together. She remembered him picking her up and saying, “I will see you later.” Deen went on to attend gunner school, where he trained to operate an A-26 Invader. By 1944, he was deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Hornet.

Deen’s combat experience began during the fierce battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. Squadron commander Valdemar Lambert described the chaos of the battle, noting that the squadron achieved multiple hits on enemy vessels amidst intense anti-aircraft fire. During this encounter, shrapnel struck Deen’s foot, but he chose to remain with his crew instead of recuperating on a hospital ship.

On November 5, 1944, Deen, pilot Lt. Robert Cosgrove, and radioman Digby Denzek set out on a mission to Manila Bay. Unbeknownst to them, they would engage with fully manned Japanese ships that were prepared for battle. As Cosgrove descended to make their attack run, a Navy cameraman captured the final moments of Deen’s life.

“We thought it was going to be real easy,” Cosgrove recalled in the documentary “Bull Halsey: The Navy’s Fearless Admiral of WWII.” Just as they initiated their attack, enemy anti-aircraft guns opened fire. Tragically, a Japanese shell struck their plane, killing Deen instantly.

Cosgrove described the horror of the moment: “My radioman said, ‘Ohh, Deen’s been hit bad. … I’ve got teeth and stuff raining down on me.’” Despite the devastation, Cosgrove managed to return to the USS Essex and radio ahead about the grim situation.

The crew aboard the Essex, accustomed to the perils of war, was nonetheless shaken by the gruesome sight of Deen’s body in the turret. Within 15 minutes of the plane’s return, the Navy made the decision to leave Deen in place rather than remove him. Shortly thereafter, the ship’s chaplain offered a blessing, and Deen’s Avenger was pushed into the sea—a final farewell from his fellow sailors.

Deen’s name is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. His story serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime and the enduring legacy of those who serve.