Categorie: Places Unknown 1943

Rank and Name,  Aviation Metalsmith Third Class Laurent Somers Aden.

Unit/placed on, USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) Carrier, United States Naval Reserve.

Laurent was born  in 1922 Ohio.

Father, Lawrence E. Aden.

Mother, Adele Aden.

Sister, Jean Aden.  

Brother, Douglas Aden.

Laurent entered  the Service from Ohio with service-number # 126127.

Laurent was KIA when the USS Liscome Bay got torpedoed by a U-Boat and Sunk, on Nov, 24, 1943,  is honored with a  Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Laurent is buried/mentioned at Honolulu Memorial Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Courts of the Missing.

Thanks to http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/history-up-close/sinking-uss-liscome-bay/ Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC,  https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.

Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html

NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Kenneth Ray Adkins Jr.

Unit/placed in, 528th Bomber Squadron, 380th Bomber Group (Heavy)”King of the Heavies” .

Kenneth was born  in 1921 in Ohio.

Father, Kenneth R. Adkins.

Mother, Ora M. Adkins.

Sisters, Madalyne and Marjorie Adkins.  

Brother, Joseph Adkins.

Wife, Eloise Adkins.

Son, Kenneth Adkins III.

Kenneth entered  the Service from Ft. Thomas Newport, Kentucky in May 3, 1942 with service-number # 15114274.

Kenneth was KIA when the plane came out of formation, it came in a spiral and crashed, on Nov 21, 1943, he is honored with a  Purple Heart,Air Medal,  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Kenneth’s crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-24 were;

1st Lt. Maurice W. Beller Pilot

F/O. Lee R. Root Co Pilot

2nd Lt. John M. Trexler Jr. Navigator

2nd Lt. Kenneth R. Adkins Jr. Bombardier

T.Sgt. Arnold W. Churek Engineer

T/Sgt. Lincoln Johnson Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Floyd E. Rakow Asst. Engineer

Pvt. William M. Thomas Asst. Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Ernest Rivera Gunner

S/Sgt Paul Nigrini Gunner

P/O/. Keith H. Bevan P.C.M. Operator

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

Wall of the missing.

Thanks to http://380th.org/ Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC,  https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.

Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html

NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Wayne J. Aberle.

Unit/Placed in on, 11^th Bomber Squadron, 7^th Bomber Group (Heavy).

Wayne is born in 1917 in Illinois.

Father, William H. Aberle.

Mother, Bessie G. (Gifford) Aberle.

Wayne enlisted the U.S.Army in Illinois with service number # 0-673004.

Wayne was KIA on Oct. 26, 1943,Second Lieutenant Wayne J. Aberle is honored with a  Purple Heart, Air Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Wayne’s crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-24 were;

2^nd Lt Herbert F. Hompe Pilot

2^nd Lt Gerald D. Dornbach Co Pilot

2^nd Lt Wayne J. Aberle Bomardier/Navigator

S/Sgt Morris Loren Engineer/Gunner

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

Wall of the missing.

Thanks to  http://wwistory.comw.cbi-h/part_i.html#25 Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC,  https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.

Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html

NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Robert H. Adams.

Unit/Placed in, 80^th Fighter Squadron, 8^th Fighter Group.

Robert is born in 1920 in Pomeroy, Washington.16/4

Father, Harry A. Adams.

Mother, Avis Adams.

Robert enlisted the U.S. Army Air Force in  Washington with service # O-728535.

Robert died circumstances unknown on Sept. 1, 1943, he is honored with a  Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

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

Wall of the missing.

Thanks to http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/8th_Fighter_Group.html Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC,  https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.

Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html

NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Robert Austin Alexander.

Unit/Placed, Marine Fighter Squadron 214, M(arine)A(ir)G(roup) 11, United States Navy.

Robert was born on Jan. 24, 1921 in Kamrar, Iowa.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

Robert enlisted the Navy in Davenport, Iowa on April,1942 with service number # No Record.

Robert’s rank/duty was a First Lieutenant/Pilot flying with the 214^th Marine Fighter Squadron flying a  F4U-Corsair.

Robert A. Alexander died when his Aircraft crashed at Kolombangara, New Georgia due to friendly fire (PT-Boats) , on Sep. 30, 1943.

Robert is buried/mentioned at Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, USA.

Thanks to https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/f4u/alexander.html Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC,  https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.

Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html

NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/ 

The third Corsair fighter was piloted by 1STLT Robert Austin Alexander and as he approached the trio of PT boats he fired on them resulting in casualties aboard PT-126.  Whether he fired intentionally or accidentally is not known but his actions resulted in the trio of PT boats returning fire.  Alexander’s plane was seriously damaged by their gunfire and he guided it to nearby Kolombangara Island where it crashed killing him.  On December 5 a group from VMF-214 journeyed to Kolombangara which was still in Japanese control.  They reported that it was not hard to find the plane because in crashing it had cut a path through the palm trees 50 feet wide and nearly 100 feet long.  1STLT Alexander was found in the wreckage.  The group buried his body in the sand near the crashed plane.  When the island came under U.S. control his body was recovered and sent to Manila in the Philippines.  In 1948 his body was returned to the U.S. for permanent burial at the Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa.

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Irving Adler.

Unit/placed on, 320th Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group (Heavy) “Jolly Roger”.

Irving was born  in 1918 in Massachusetts.

Father, Myer Adler.

Born in Russia.

Mother, Dorothy Adler.

Brother, Gilbert Adler.

Irving entered  the Service from Massachusetts with servicenumber # O-728327.

Irving Adler rank/duty was a First Lieutenant/Navigator(B-24) in the 320th Bomber Squadron.

Irving’s crew-members and their position on board the plane a B-24 were;

1stLt. John B. Willcoxon Pilot

2ndLt. Thomas M. Magness Co Pilot

1stLt. George T. Maher Bombardier

1stLt. Irving Adler Navigator

T/Sgt. Howard V. McCalmont Engineer

S/Sgt. John F. Dowd Radio Operator

S/Sgt. George J. Smith Right Waist Gunner

Sgt. Eugene V. Turner Left Waist Gunner

Sgt. John P. Zalic Ball Turret Gunner

Pfc. M.D. Turretine Tail Gunner

Cpl. Edwin B. McNaughton Jr. Photographer

Civilian Carl Thusgaard Photographer

Irving Adler was Killed in Action in/during the plane exploded mid-air when attacked by 6 Japanese Kawasaki KI-61, on July 20, 1943, and he is honored with the Purple Heart and (Posthumously) the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross .

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

Thanks to http://jollyrogersweb.com/default.aspx ABMC.gov https://www.abmc.gov Find a Grave http://www.findagrave.com/ Rolland Swank and Terry Hirsch.