Son of Mary A. Edwards.
John served as a Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.
John was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
( Bio: by Russ Pickett )
Pilot 1st Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, Jr., O-015355 (MIA / KIA) FL
Crew PFC William C Thompson- radioman (MIA / KIA)
Crew Cpl John J Edwards - turret gunner (MIA / KIA)
MIA February 14, 1944
Mission History
On February 14, 1944 three groups of Avengers took off from Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville at one hour intervals a mission to to drop aerial mines into the northern half of Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Each Avenger was armed with one Mark 12-1 aerial mine per plane.
Over the target, each aircraft attacked from less than 600' altitude, flying at a slow speed speed of less than 180 knots. During the attack, the Avengers were targeted by searchlights and intense anti-aircraft fire. One plane was lost from Group A (attacking east to west), two planes were lost from Group B (attacking west to east) and three were lost from Group C (attacking east to west).
When this Avenger failed to return from the mission, the crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). A total of six Avengers went down that day including this aircraft and TBF 47506, TBF 06311, TBF 24264, TBF 24340, TBF 25327.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
John served as a Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.
John was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
( Bio: by Russ Pickett )
Pilot 1st Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, Jr., O-015355 (MIA / KIA) FL
Crew PFC William C Thompson- radioman (MIA / KIA)
Crew Cpl John J Edwards - turret gunner (MIA / KIA)
MIA February 14, 1944
Mission History
On February 14, 1944 three groups of Avengers took off from Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville at one hour intervals a mission to to drop aerial mines into the northern half of Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Each Avenger was armed with one Mark 12-1 aerial mine per plane.
Over the target, each aircraft attacked from less than 600' altitude, flying at a slow speed speed of less than 180 knots. During the attack, the Avengers were targeted by searchlights and intense anti-aircraft fire. One plane was lost from Group A (attacking east to west), two planes were lost from Group B (attacking west to east) and three were lost from Group C (attacking east to west).
When this Avenger failed to return from the mission, the crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). A total of six Avengers went down that day including this aircraft and TBF 47506, TBF 06311, TBF 24264, TBF 24340, TBF 25327.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
Son of Mary A. Edwards.
John served as a Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.
John was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
( Bio: by Russ Pickett )
Pilot 1st Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, Jr., O-015355 (MIA / KIA) FL
Crew PFC William C Thompson- radioman (MIA / KIA)
Crew Cpl John J Edwards - turret gunner (MIA / KIA)
MIA February 14, 1944
Mission History
On February 14, 1944 three groups of Avengers took off from Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville at one hour intervals a mission to to drop aerial mines into the northern half of Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Each Avenger was armed with one Mark 12-1 aerial mine per plane.
Over the target, each aircraft attacked from less than 600' altitude, flying at a slow speed speed of less than 180 knots. During the attack, the Avengers were targeted by searchlights and intense anti-aircraft fire. One plane was lost from Group A (attacking east to west), two planes were lost from Group B (attacking west to east) and three were lost from Group C (attacking east to west).
When this Avenger failed to return from the mission, the crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). A total of six Avengers went down that day including this aircraft and TBF 47506, TBF 06311, TBF 24264, TBF 24340, TBF 25327.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
John served as a Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.
John was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
( Bio: by Russ Pickett )
Pilot 1st Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, Jr., O-015355 (MIA / KIA) FL
Crew PFC William C Thompson- radioman (MIA / KIA)
Crew Cpl John J Edwards - turret gunner (MIA / KIA)
MIA February 14, 1944
Mission History
On February 14, 1944 three groups of Avengers took off from Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville at one hour intervals a mission to to drop aerial mines into the northern half of Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Each Avenger was armed with one Mark 12-1 aerial mine per plane.
Over the target, each aircraft attacked from less than 600' altitude, flying at a slow speed speed of less than 180 knots. During the attack, the Avengers were targeted by searchlights and intense anti-aircraft fire. One plane was lost from Group A (attacking east to west), two planes were lost from Group B (attacking west to east) and three were lost from Group C (attacking east to west).
When this Avenger failed to return from the mission, the crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). A total of six Avengers went down that day including this aircraft and TBF 47506, TBF 06311, TBF 24264, TBF 24340, TBF 25327.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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