Categorie: The Hump 1944

Name and Rank, Staff Sergeant Kosta Xita.

Unit/Placed in, 374th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group (Heavy).

 

Kosta was born approx. on 1922 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

 

Father, Chris Xita.

Mother, Pheresofone Xita.

Sister, Angelina Xita.

 

He enlisted  the service on Oct. 5, 1942 at Pennsylvania with service number # 13124587.

 

Kost’s his Crewmembers and positions on the B-24 were,

 

2ndLt.          Lyle L. Schulzkump            Pilot

2ndLt.          Rex D. Arnold                   Co Pilot

2ndLt.          Seymour Goldsmith           Navigator

2ndLt.          Luther W. Tate                 Bombardier

S/Sgt.           Kosta Xita                        Engineer

S/Sgt.           John R. Rice                     Radio Operator

S/Sgt.           Matthew O. Kelsey            Asst. Engineer

S/Sgt.           Robert V. Sayer                Gunner

S/Sgt.           Anthony S. Kryscio            Radar Observer

T/Sgt.          Paul J. Koerner                 Gunner

 

Kosta Xita was a Staff Sergeant/Engineer (B-24) in the 374th Bomber Squadron.

 

Kosta was KIA because (presumably) his plane was attacked, shot and crashed in sea, on May 26, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Costa is buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Tablets of the Missing.

 

Thanks to

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

On May 26, 1944, he was flying as an Engineer on a radar reconnaissance mission. Attempting to get below threatening weather, the aircraft hit Morshih Kou Shan Mountain, between the villages of Na Fa and Ta Shaun. The aircraft was equipped with long-range extra fuel tanks, and the resulting explosion after crash was so severe that only small fragments of the aircraft were recovered. All aboard died, and no remains were recovered.
Missing Air Crew Report 5346 lists the pilot as Lt. Lyle L. Schulzkump.
Many of the aircraft assignment records, mission loading lists, and air crew assignments from 308th Bomb Group are missing or illegible..

Name and Rank, Sergeant Byron E. La Blanc.

Unit/Placed in, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group (Heavy).

 

Byron was born approx. on Sep. 5, 1921 in Wisconsin.

 

Father, William A. La Blanc.

Mother, Emily (Laconic) La Blanc.

Sister, Alice La Blanc.

Brothers, John, Laurence, Ervin, Francis and Ronald La Blanc.

 

Byron entered  the service from Wisconsin with service number # 36805260.

 

Byron E. La Blanc was a Left Waist Gunner in the 425th Bomber Squadron.

 

Byron’s crewmembers and there position onboard the plane a B-24 were,

 

2nd Lt.         Evert P. Mitchell               Pilot

2nd Lt.         Francis G. Steiger              Co Pilot

2nd Lt.         Fred R. Massing                Navigator

F/O              Howard J. Lundberg          Bombardier

S/Sgt.           Leonard W. Habel              Engineer/Gunner

S/Sgt.           Reese Hunter Jr.               Radio Operator/Gunner

Sgt.              Robert H. Kuhns                Right Waist Gunner

Sgt.              Byron E. La Blanc             Left Waist Gunner

Cpl.              Lawrence C. Hedlund         Radar Observer/Gunner

 

Byron E. La Blanc was Killed in Action due to bad weather during a night mission to Mine Lying at Kunming, China, when there was nothing on the Radio of there where abouts on Aug. 9, 1944, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

And he is buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila,

National Capital Region, Philippines.

He has a Memorialgrave at Saint Ann Cemetery, Turtle Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin, USA.

 

Thanks to http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com/308th_web/index.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Joseph Girard Azat.

Unit/Placed in, 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group.

 

Joseph is born approx. on 27 March 1927 in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania.

Father, Joseph Azat.

Born in Italy.

Mother, Angela Azat.

Sister(s), Anne Azat.

 

Joseph enlisted the service in Pennsylvania with service number # 0-820195.

 

Joseph was KIA when there was nothing heard over radio or else (probably bad weather) on 5 Oct. 1944,  he is honored with an Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Joseph is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/33rd_Fighter_Group.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Melvin Sherwood Avery.

Unit/Placed in, 436th Bomber Squadron, 7th Bomber Group, Heavy.

 

Melvin is born approx. on 19 May 1918 in Oklahoma.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

 

Melvin enlisted the service in Oklahoma with service number # 0-670487.

 

Melvin‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-24  were,

Capt.            Vick Winter                      Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Melvin S. Avery                Co Pilot

1^st Lt.           Hugh B. Bennett               Navigator

2^nd Lt.          Raymond D. McSween        Bombardier

T/Sgt.          Peter Soman                    Engineer

T/Sgt.          John D. Simon                  Radio Operator

S/Sgt.           Ray Kenney                      Gunner

S/Sgt.           Robert P. Thomas              Gunner

S/Sgt.           Howard D. Norman           Gunner

 

Melvin was KIA (unknown) there was a radio com for help, but no reply  on 2 July 1943, he is honored with an Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Melvin is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Hilltop Cemetery, Calvin, Hughes County, Oklahoma, USA.

 

Thanks to, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/7th_Bombardment_Group.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Linus Jason Austin.

Unit/Placed in, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy.

 

Linus is born approx. on June, 1919 in Emporia, Kansas.

Father, Jason R. Austin.

Mother, Sabra E. (Whitley) Austin.

Sister(s), Catherine Austin.

Brother(s), Whitley Austin.

 

Linus enlisted the service in Kansas with service number # O-669947.

 

Linus Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-24 were,

1^st Lt.           Donald G. Richardson        Pilot

1^st Lt.           Frank L. Munson               Co Pilot

1^st Lt.           Linus J. Austin                  Bombardier

1^st Lt.           James P. Gilbert                Navigator

TSgt.            Harold W. Case                 Engineer

TSgt.            Cecil L. Olson                    Radio Operator

SSgt.            Arthur Regal                    Asst. Radio Operator

Corp.            Jordan L. Daley                Asst. Engineer

SSgt.            Clifford T. Hamilton           Gunner

Corp.            Walter S Polchopak            Gunner

Linus was KIA on a Combat Mission to Yangkin, China to Sweep Japanese vessels they were shot by Anti-Aircraft on 20 May, 1944, he is honored with an Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Linus is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Private First Class Floyd Russel Austin.

Unit/Placed in, 5307th Composite Unit.

Merrill’s Marauders

Merrill’s Marauders (named after Frank Merrill) or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a United States Army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II, or China-Burma-India Theater (CBI). The unit became famous for its deep-penetration missions behind Japanese lines, often engaging Japanese forces superior in number.

 

Floyd is born approx. on 30 May 1924 in New York.

Father, Warren S. Austin.

Mother, Grace (Beagle) Austin.

Sister(s), Irene M. Austin.

Brother(s), Calvin L. Homer D. Lloyd S. and Tody Austin.

 

Floyd enlisted the service in New York with service number # 32838650.

 

Floyd was KIA, Fighting the Japanese Troops at the Burma Road on 14 Lune 1944, he is honored with a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Floyd is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to, http://www.marauder.org/passing.htm#A

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Joseph J. Auld.

Unit/Placed in, 4^th Squadron, 62^nd Troop Carrier Group (normally he served with 82nd Bomber Squadron, 12th Bomber Group, Medium.

 

Joseph is born approx. on 22 Sep. 1918 in New York.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

Spouse, Evelyn Auld.

 

Joseph enlisted the service in New York with service number # O-797949.

 

Joseph‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-24 were,

Capt.            Joseph M. Obinski              Pilot

1^st Lt.           Joseph J. Auld                  Co Pilot

1^st Lt.           Robert M. Anderson           Navigator

T/Sgt.          Clarence E. Frantz             Radio Operator

Pvt.              Robert L. Crane                Drop Crew

Pvt.              Richard M. Dawson            Drop Crew

Pvt.              Fred V. Fagan                   Drop Crew

Joseph was KIA on a Supply Drop to the Forces at Myitkyina, Burma and crashed at Myanmar (Burma) on 23 May 1944, he is honored with an Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Joseph was first buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

His remains are discovered and his final resting place now is at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

 

Thanks to, https://www.wikiwand.com/en/62nd_Operations_Group

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

When an individual’s remains have been accounted for by the U.S. Department of Defense, a rosette is placed next to the name on the Wall/Tablet/Court of the Missing to mark that the person now rests in a known gravesite.

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Joseph Edgar Aucoin.

Unit/Placed in, 81st Bomber Squadron, 12th Bomber Group, Medium.

 

Joseph is born approx. on 18 Nov. 1914 in Bangor, Maine.

Father, Placide AuCoin.

Mother, Caroline M. (Martin) AuCoin.

Sister(s), Mary H. and Gertrude A. AuCoin.

 

Joseph enlisted the service in Maine with service number # 0-562434.

 

Joseph‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-25 were,

1^st Lt.           John T. Roberts                Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Joseph E. AuCoin              Bombardier

TSgt.            John H. Rosenstreter         Radio Operator/Gunner

SSgt.            William F. Zuchoski            Engineer/Gunner

Sgt.              Charles J. Kenny Jr.           Armor Gunner

 

Joseph was KIA when they made a Course change and came in very bad weather that made them crash in Myanmar on 16 April 1944,  he is honored with an Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Joseph is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery,

Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine, USA.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Private Burrell Arthur.

Unit/Placed in, 5307th Composite Unit (Merrill’s Marauder’s).

Merrill’s Marauders

Merrill’s Marauders (named after Frank Merrill) or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a United States Army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II, or China-Burma-India Theater (CBI). The unit became famous for its deep-penetration missions behind Japanese lines, often engaging Japanese forces superior in number.

 

Burrell is born approx. on 1924 in Ohio.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

 

Burrell enlisted the service in Ohio with service number # 35790336.

 

Burrell was KIA in the fights with the Japanese over Myitkyina Airfield on, 4 August, 1944, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Burrell is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, Major Robert Thermond Arnoldus.

Unit/Placed in, Headquarters Squadron, 468th Bomber Group, Heavy.

 

Robert is born approx. on 9 July, 1917 in Oregon.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

Spouse, Dorothy B. Arnoldus.

 

Robert enlisted the service in Oregon with service number # 0-412133.

 

Robert ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-29 were,

Colonel         Ted S. Faulkner                Pilot

1^st Lt.          Maurice E. Eigler              Co Pilot

Major           Robert T. Arnoldus           Navigator

Major           Harve N. Johnson             Bombardier

1^st Lt.          Harry H. Peterson             Radar Operator

F/O.            Edward J. Kennedy           Engineer

Sgt.             William Glibbon               Radio Operator

Sgt.             Ward Miller                    Central Fire Control /Gunner

S/Sgt.          Buster Westbrook             Left Gunner

S/Sgt.          Hubert B. Gruber             Right Gunner

S/Sgt.          Emerald T. Queen             Tail Gunner

Passenger     John Andrew                  War Correspondent

 

Robert was KIA  on the Mission to the Singapore Naval base and for reason unknown, they saw the plane crash at Bengal Bay on 5 November, 1944, he is honored with an Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Robert is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Summerville Cemetery,

Summerville, Union County, Oregon, USA.

 

Thanks to, https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-29/42-6370.html

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com