Categorie: 1945

Rank and Name, Technical Sergeant Jerald H. Altig.

Unit/Placed in, 531^st Bomber Squadron, 380^th Bomber Group (Heavy).

 

Jerald is born approx. on 1923 in Nebraska.

Father, William C. Altig.

Sister(s), Thelma M Altig.

Brother(s), Charles W. and Russell K. Altig.

 

Jerald enlisted the service in Nebraska with service number # 37266507.

 

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

2^nd Lt.          Joseph B. Connaughton      Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Jay W. Swan                    Co Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Edward J. Plotkin             Navigator

2^nd Lt.          Henry L Ostapowsld           Bombardier

T/Sgt.          Smith M. Abbott               Engineer

T/Sgt.          Jerald H. Altig                  Radio Operator

S/Sgt.           Lonnie L. Albert                Armor Gunner

S/Sgt.           Joseph C. Barb                  Nose Gunner

S/Sgt.           George P. Adams               Top Turret Gunner

S/Sgt.           Henry F. Bain                   Tail Gunner

S/Sgt.           Harry G. Rollings               Photographer

 

Jerald was KIA on Takeoff for the mission the plane exploded on the runway   on Juni 18, 1944, he is honored with a Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

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

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to, http://380th.org/

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

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

Website,

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

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

 

Rank and Name, Sergeant Merle Dale Ahrens.

Unit/Placed in, 128^th Infantry Regiment, 32^nd Infantry Division “Red Arrow”.

 

Merle is born approx. July 30, 1925 in Big Sandy, Montana.

 

Father, Herman J. Ahrens.

Mother, Ida (Mullins) Ahrens.

Wife, Julia M. (Joy) Ahrens.

 

Merle enlisted the service in Montana with service number # 39620854.

 

Merle was KIA during the Villa Verde Trail in Luzon, Philippines on March 24, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

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

 

 

Thanks to, http://www.32nd-division.org/

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

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

Website,

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Rank and Name, Seaman First Class Max Vernon Allstot.

Unit/Placed in, USS Louisville (CA-28) Cruiser, United States Naval Reserve.

 

Max is born approx. on May 10, 1922 in Harlan, Iowa.

Father, Guy W. Allstot.

Mother, Udine (Fish) Allstot.

Spouse, Ila M. (Pearson) Allstot.

 

Max enlisted the service in Iowa with service number # 6210554.

 

Max was KIA when the USS Louisville was hit by a Mitshubishi KI-51 Kamikaze plane near Lingayen Gulf, Philippines on Jan. 6, 1945, he is honored with a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Max 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 Union Township Cemetery, Defiance, Shelby County, Iowa, USA.

And a Memorial Grave at Saint Rose of Lima Cemetery, Denison, Crawford County, Iowa, USA.

 

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

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

Website,

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

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

 

Following Leyte operations, Louisville rejoined the fast carriers now designated TF 38, and participated in pre-invasion strikes against the enemy on Luzon.

By the new year, 1945, Louisville was headed towards Lingayen Gulf.

While en route on 5–6 January, two kamikazes headed for and scored on her.

The first kamikaze on 5 January 1945 hit the No. 2 main battery 8-inch 55 caliber gun knocking it completely out of commission killing one man with 17 injured/burned including Captain Rex LeGrande Hicks.

The second kamikaze on 6 January 1945 hit the starboard side signal bridge.

Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler, commander of Cruiser Division 4 (CruDiv 4) was fatally injured helping the sailors man handle the fire hoses to put out the massive flames during the latter attack, and died of his wounds the following day.

Commander (later Rear Admiral) William P. McCarty took control of Louisville and managed recovery efforts in fighting fires and restoration of equipment, for which he was awarded the Silver Star.

42 crewmen were also killed and 125 or more men were wounded.

Bridge knocked out of commission at the time forced switch of control to battery no. 2 by second smoke stack. Despite extensive damage, the cruiser shelled the beaches and shot down several enemy planes before withdrawing on 9 January 1945 and proceeding to Mare Island Navy Yard for repairs.

The Kamikaze planes were Mitshibushi KI-51.

Thanks to Wikipedia.

 

 

 

 

 

Rank and Name, Captain John C. Alsup Jr.

Unit/Placed in, 387^th Bomber Squadron, 312^th Bomber Group (Light).

 

John is born approx. on Jan. 27, 1921 in Browns Creek, Texas.

Father, John G. Alsup.

Mother, Atta l. (Overton) Alsup.

Sister(s), Irma J. Sara O. and Mary Ann Alsup.

 

John enlisted the service in Texas with service number # 0-665156.

 

John ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-40 were,

Capt. John C. Alsup Jr.     Pilot

Cpl.     William K. Rush       Gunner

 

John was KIA during a low level attack by A-20s on Clark Field near Manila.  His plane was hit in the bomb bay, it nosed up, burst into flames and then crashed on Jan. 14, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star Medal,  United States Aviator Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished 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.

 

Thanks to, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/312th_Bombardment_Group.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

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

Website,

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

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

http://www.pacificghosts.com/video/312th/