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
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..
