Indonesia 1945 – ww2 Pacific

Ireland, William

Rank and Name, Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class William Ireland.

Unit/Placed in, USS Bullhead (SS-332) Submarine, United States Navy.

William is born on 11 April 1917 in Vigo County, Indiana.

Spouse, Laurantina Victoria Ireland.

William enlisted the service in Indiana with service number # 2917237.

William was KIA when the USS Bullhead was sunk at the west end of Lombok Strait by an Air attacked on 6Aug. 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Good Combat Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

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

Walls of the missing.

Thanks to, http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/ireland-w.htm

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

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

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

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

WordPress en/of Wooncommerce oplossingen, https://www.siteklusjes.nl/

Military Recovery, https://www.dpaa.mil/

Atz, Ralph Eugene

Rank and Name, Ensign Ralph Eugene Atz.

Unit/Placed in, Patrol Bombing Squadron 121 (VPB-121), United States Naval Reserve.

Ralph is born approx. on 24 Dec. 1922 in Milltown, Indiana.

Father, George F. Atz.

Mother, Eliza J. (Hammond) Atz.

Sister(s), Mabel E. Ella K. Crystal and Mary Atz.

Brother(s), August J. Edward F. and Charles F. Atz.

Ralph enlisted the service in Indiana with service number # 0-363829.

Ralph‘s Crew-members on-board the plane a PB4Y-2 were,

Lt. William McElwee Jr. Pilot

Ltjg. Richard L. Vannice

Ens. Ralph E. Atz

Aom1. Joseph T. Houser

S1. Frank E. Marstiller

S1. Calvin C. Weiss

Amm2. Clinton C. Gibbany

Aom 2. Levi Siscoe

Aom3. Homer P. Garrison

Arm3. Dan M. Gibbons Jr.

Amm3. Arthur H. Hill

Arm3. William E. Roarty

Ralph was KIA when made a Second Pass over the target the were hit by Anti-Aircraft fire before dropping their Fragmentation Bomb, the plane caught on Fire broke in 2 and crashed on 7 March, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Ralph is buried/mentioned at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu County, Hawaii U.S.A.

Courts of the missing.

Thanks to, https://books.google.nl/books?id=wjVPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA440&lpg=PA440&dq=BUNO:+59477&source=bl&ots=ioALsvmBgY&sig=ACfU3U009SVu-TSgU2k7_EQkLBzBYjRmrw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiWpee0yersAhUPzaQKHa-ED5MQ6AEwAHoECAIQAg#v=onepage&q=BUNO%3A%2059477&f=false

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,

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

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

Ashby, Robert Gale

Rank and Name, Staff Sergeant Robert Gale Ashby.

Unit/Placed in, 371st Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Group, Heavy.

Robert is born approx. on 1924 in Oklahoma.

Father, Otis E. Ashby Sr.

Mother, Gladys I. (Croft) Ashby.

Sister(s), Muriel J. and Lilia C. Ashby.

Brother(s), Donald C. and Otis E. Ashby Jr.

Robert enlisted the service in Oklahoma with service number # 18163229.

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

1^st Lt. James W. Line Pilot

2^nd Lt. Perry Verhage Co Pilot

2^nd Lt. John E. Norbeck Navigator

2^nd Lt. Joseph E. Chandler Bombardier

T/Sgt. William F. Hedges Engineer

S/Sgt. William H. Monahan III Asst. Engineer

T/Sgt. William D. Duplechain Radior Operator

S/Sgt. Robert G. Ashby Asst. Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Harry G. Monette Gunner

S/Sgt. Louis J. Nicholas Gunner

Pvt. Stephen Prelipsky Photographer

Robert was KIA (no record) there was after Take-off no more radio contact with the plane on 27 February 1945, he is honored with an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, 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.

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,

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

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

Antonini, Herman

Rank and Name, Major Herman F. Antonini.

Unit/Placed in, Headquarters Squadron, Far East Air Service Command.

Herman is born approx. on June 4, 1915 in. Indiana.

Father, Fred Antonini.

Mother, Jennie Anthonini.

Brother(s), Edmund Antonini.

Herman enlisted the service in Illinois with service number # 0-351875.

The Gremlin Special was a Douglas C-47 Skytrain that crashed during a sightseeing flight for U.S. service members over the Baliem Valley (?Shangri-La Valley?) in New Guinea in 1945.

Herman ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a C-47 were,

Colonel Peter J Prossen Pilot

Major George H. Nicholson Co Pilot

S/Sgt. Hilliard Norris Engineer

Pfc. George B. Newcomer Radio Operator

Pfc. Melvin A. Mollberg Asst. Engineer

1^st Lt. Robert E. McCollom Passenger

1^st Lt. John S. McCollom Passenger Survived

Captain Lewis E. Freyman Passenger

Major Philip J. Dattilo Passenger

1^st Lt. ???? J. Holding Passenger

Captain Herbert F. Good Passenger

Major Herman F. Antonini Passenger

T/Sgt. Kenneth W. Decker Passenger Survived

T/3. Marion W. McMonagle Passenger

S/Sgt. Laura E. Besley Passenger

Sgt. Belle G. Naimer Passenger

Sgt. Helen C. Kent Passenger

Pfc. Mary M. Landau Passenger

Pfc. Eleanor P. Hanna Passenger

Pfc. Marian C. Gillis Passenger

Pfc. Alethia M. Fair Passenger

Corp. Melvyn A. Weber Passenger

Corp. Margaret J. Hastings Passenger Survived

Corp. Charles L. Miller Passenger

Herman died when there was no more radio-contact and they crashed on a mountain on May 13, 1945, he is honored with a Good Conduct Medal, United States Aviator Badge, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Maj. Antonini is one of 18 servicemen and women killed in an aircraft crash in a remote part of Papua New Guiana on May 13, 1945. Initially buried in field graves near the crash site, their remains were not recovered by the War Department until more than a decade after the war. Once recovered and identified, all 18 were interred as a group burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis. Missouri. Their names are permanently engraved on the Walls of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery.

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

Walls of the missing.

And a Memorial Grave on the Website https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45700685/herman-f-antonini

Thanks to, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-47/42-23952.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1945_New_Guinea_Gremlin_Special_rescue

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,

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

Andrews, John Edward

Rank and Name, Aviation Radioman Second Class John Edward Andrews.

Unit/Placed in, Patrol Bombing Squadron 146 (VPB-146).

John is born approx. on 1924 in Michigan.

Mother, Leila Andrews.

Sister(s), Claudia Andrews .

Brother(s), William and Robert Andrews.

John enlisted the service in Michigan with service number # 6226411.

John ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a Lockheed Ventura were,

LtJg. William J. Decker Pilot

LtJg. Theodore J. Thornburg Co Pilot

Amm1c. Hazel Porter

Amm1c. Elmer J. Carcia

Aom1c. Robert G. Brockma

Arm2c. John E. Andrews

John died when his plane did not return from the sector search on Oct, 29, 1945, he is honored with a Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

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

Walls of the missing.

is buried/mentioned at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu County, Hawaii U.S.A.

Courts of the missing.

Thanks to, https://navalaviationfoundation.org/donor-kiosk/squadron-flight-log-entry-kiosk/?id=15

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,

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

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

Anders, Alden Pearl

Rank and Name, Aviation Radioman Third Class Alden Pearl Anders.

Unit/Placed in, Scouting Bombing Squadron-111 (VPB-111), United States Naval Reserve.

Alden is born approx. on Oct. 20, 1924 in Clay County, Iowa.

Father, Charles P. Anders.

Mother, Wealthy E. (Doyle) Anders.

Sister(s), Margorie F. Lois and Colleen Anders.

Brother(s), Mearl D. and Merwyn Anders.

Alden enlisted the service in Iowa with service number # 8599212.

Alden ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a PB4Y-1 were,

Lt Jg. L. T. Bass

Lt Jg. W. L. Dernberger

Ensign P. B. Stretcher

Arm3c. A. P. Anders

Arm1c. R. H. Graham

Arm3c. R.P. Kivitt

Amm3c. R. W. Mitchell

Amm1c. H. V. Philpott

Aom3c. G. W. Pringle

Arm3c (T) J. Regiac

Arm3c. (T) W. A. Whitener

Alden died when they did not come back from a patrol from Makassar Straight, Indonesia on June 16, 1945, he is honored with an Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Alden 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 Lone Tree Cemetery, Sioux Rapids, Buena Vista County, Iowa, USA.

Thanks to, http://www.vp-21navy.org/AcrobatPDFFiles/Fifth%20VP-21.pdf

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=rugged%20beloved&epa=SEARCH_BOX

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,

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

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

Names of the Crewmembers wit photo on Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=rugged%20beloved&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Dahl, Elmer Mortenson

Rank and Name, Motor Machinist’s Mate Third Class Elmer Mortenson Dahl.

Unit/Placed in, USS Bullhead (SS-332) Submarine, United States Naval Reserve.

Elmer is born approx. on May 4, 1909 in Clay, Iowa.

Father, Paul M. Dahl.

Born in Germany.

Mother, Anna L. Dahl.

Sisters, Esther L. Hilda K. and Ella M. Dahl.

Brother, Eli L. Dahl.

Elmer enlisted the service in Colorado with service number # 8767099.

Elmer was KIA when the USS Bullhead was sunk by a Japanese Air attack from a Mitsubishi Ki-51 with depth charges on Aug. 6, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Elmer 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, ABMC, https://abmc.gov

P.O.W. info, Wes Injerd and Dwight Rider, http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html Air-Force, Rolland Swank NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society,http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

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

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

Hendriks Webdesign, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/

Allen, William G.

Rank and Name, Staff Sergeant (Radio Operator C-47) William G. Allen.

Unit/Placed, 56^th Troop Carrier Squadron, 375^th Troop Carrier Group.

William was born in, 1924 in Missouri.

Father, William H. Allen.

Mother, Alta A. Allen.

William enlisted the service in Kansas with serial # 17127506.

William died during a Cargo/Passenger Mission to Biak, Indonesia (probably) crashed, on Jan. 29, 1945, Staff Sergeant William G. Allen is honored with a Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, American Campaign medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

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

Tablets of the Missing – Army.

Thanks to http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/42nd_Bombardment_Group.html ABMC, https://abmc.gov Familysearch.com https://www.familysearch.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Honorstates http://www.honorstates.org, Geoffrey Roecker https://missingmarines.com/ P.O.W. Info: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html Rolland Swank and Terry Hirsch.

Ainsworth, Paul R.

Rank and Name,Private First Class Paul R. Ainsworth.

Unit/Placed in,155th Infantry Regiment, 31th Infantry Division”Dixie“.

Paul is born no record.

Parents, No Record.

Paul enlisted the U.S.Army in New York with service number # 32472171.

Paul was KIA in the Morotai Island Campaign,Indonesia on Jan.17, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

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

Wall of the missing.

Thanks to http://www.indianamilitary.org/31STINFDIV/SoThinkMenu/31stSTART.htm 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/

Alexander, Earnest R.

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Earnest R. Alexander.

Unit/placed in, V Fighter Command (Far Eastern Air Force).

Eastern was born on Dec. 19, 1922 in Blocker, Oklahoma.

Parents and Sibling, No Record Available.

Eastern entered the service from Dallas, Texas in June 8, 1942 with service number # 18082768.

Earnest died by the Japanese trying to escape them on March 26, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

Earnest 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, 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/

On February 27, 1945 one of seven Mustangs that took off from Biak on a flight bound for Wama Airfield on Morotai on a mission to ferry new aircraft to the 3rd Air Commando Group. During the flight roughly 30-40 miles short of their destination the formation encountered very bad weather and the formation broke up.

Bollinger and Alexander were last seen entering clouds and were never seen again. This aircraft and P-51D 44-63338 piloted by Bollinger failed to arrive. Both pilots were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

New Facts

Fate of the Pilot
In fact, Alexander bailed out near Obi Island to the south of Halmahera. Alexander and Bollinger were detained by Ismael Radjaloear, Imam of Laiwoei and leader of Japanese Heihe who sold both pilots to the Japanese.

On March 11, 1945 both were turned over to the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Both men attempted to escape. On March 26, 1945 both were killed by a Japanese Army 20 man patrol.

During the middle of May 1945, an Australian Army ‘J’ Mission, Far Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) inserted an intelligence gathering party on Obi Island that learned two American pilots, Alexander and Bollinger were captured by locals and turned over to the Japanese.

Their bodies were not buried but at the end of the Pacific War the Japanese built a “burial ground” for them at Seri village (it is not clear if any remains were buried there or not. His remains were never recovered and he remains listed as Missing In Action.