Categorie: The Hump 1944

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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

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

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Rex D. Arnold.

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

 

Rex is born approx. on 11 Feb. 1922 in Kansas.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

 

Rex enlisted the service in Oklahoma with service number # 0-684459.

 

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

2^nd Lt.         Lyle L. Schulskump           Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Rex D. Arnold                  Co Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Luther W. Tate                Bombardier

2^nd Lt.          Seymour Goldsmith          Navigator

S/Sgt.          Kosta Xita                      Engineer

S/Sgt.          John R. Rice                    Radio Operator

S/Sgt.          Matthew O. Kelsay            Asst. Engineer

T/Sgt.          Paul J. Koerner                Gunner

S/Sgt.          Robert V. Sayer               Gunner

S/Sgt          Anthony S. Kryscio           Radar Operator

Rex was KIA on a mission when in bad weather the plane hit a mountainside and crashed on 26 May, 1944,  he is honored with a Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Rex 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

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Alfred Leston Arnold III.

Unit/Placed in, 82nd Bomber Squadron, 12th Bomber Group, Medium.

 

Alfred is born approx. on Dec. 20, 1922 in Owosso, Michigan.

Father, A. L. Arnold.

 

Alfred enlisted the service in Michigan with service number # O-674541.

 

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

1^st Lt.           Alfred L. Arnold                Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Donald E. Romdall             Co Pilot

2^nd Lt.          William W. White               Bombardier/Navigator

Sgt.              John J. Mahan                  Radio Operator/Gunner

Sgt.              John J. Moniuszko             Engineer/Gunner

S/Sgt.           Harold G. Jones                Gunner

Pvt.              Kenneth H. Seidel              Gunner

 

Alfred died in an accident after Take-Off (plane blew up) on May 7, 1944, he is honored with an Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Alfred 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

Rank and Name, Technical Sergeant Jasper B. Armstrong.

Unit/Placed in, 375th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy.

 

Jasper is born approx. on 1922 in Texas.

Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.

 

Jasper enlisted the service in Louisiana with service number # 14033665.

 

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

2^nd Lt.          Raymond S. Throgmorton   Pilot

F/O.             Leroy J. Zalusky                Co Pilot

2^nd Lt.          Glenn C. Streeter              Navigator

2^nd Lt.          Robert W. Young               Bombardier

T/Sgt.          Jasper B. Armstrong          Engineer

T/Sgt.          Hans G. Hansen                Radio Operator

T/Sgt.          Robert J. Morrison             Radar Observer

 

Jasper was KIA when the (presumably) were shot by Anti-Aircraft on Sep. 17, 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.

 

Jasper 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 Fisher United Methodist Church, Cemetery, Franklinton, Washington Parish, Louisiana, 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

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

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Francis Henry Armstrong.

Unit/Placed in, 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group.

 

Francis is born approx. on Sep. 19, 1918 in North Bergen, New Jersey.

Father, Francis C. Armstrong.

Mother, Catherine (Whiteridge) Armstrong.

 

Francis enlisted the service in New Jersey with service number # O-801319.

 

Francis was KIA on the mission he failed to return (presumed he was attacked a shot by Anti-Aircraft) on June 26, 1944,  he is honored with a Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Francis 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 Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, 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

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

Rank and Name, Second Lieutenant Thomas Richard Ankrim.

Unit/Placed in, 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group.

 

Thomas is born approx. on Jan. 29, 1924 in Lancaster Pennsylvania.

Father, Alva M. Ankrim.

Mother, Jocye M. (Dennis) Ankrim.

 

Thomas enlisted the service in Pennsylvania with service number # 0-820192.

 

Thomas was KIA on the mission to Airfield Lampang, Thailand was hit by Japanese Fighters on Dec. 7, 1944, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

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

Walls of the missing.

He is also is mentioned at Monument to Aviation Martyrs Nanjing Memorial, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

H also has a Memorial Grave at New Chestnut Level Presbyterian Cemetery, Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 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

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

 

Long’s diary entry for Feb. 21, 1945, notes that Minco’s body was buried by missionaries. Long remembers that a friend told him the information had come from natives. The same missionaries were said to have buried the body of Thomas Ankrim, Long’s roommate, who was downed later in the area in a different fight.