This gunner is the only sailor buried at sea — inside his plane
By Claire Barrett
Jan 8, 2026, 05:00 PM
Loyce Edward Deen was the first and only aviator buried at sea inside his airplane. (U.S. Navy)
It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. In episode 12 of “Victory at Sea,” the 1953 documentary series captured several solemn burials at sea — but one naval burial stood out from the rest.
Twenty-three-year-old Loyce Edward Deen, an aviation machinist mate, was the first and only aviator buried at sea inside his airplane. It was part necessity — his TBM Avenger was so badly shot up by 40mm anti-aircraft shells that the removal of Deen would have been almost impossible — but the U.S. Navy took it one step further to honor its slain shipmate. According to a memorial page dedicated to Deen, orders came down not to strip the plane for parts, a rare occurrence during a time when the demand for scrap metal was high.
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/military-history/2026/01/08/this-gunner-is-the-only-sailor-buried-at-sea-inside-his-plane/
