Servicemen who perished on B-24D #42-41081:

Allred, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, IA

Atkins, Harold T ~ 1st Sgt, Passenger, MT

Barnard, Charles R ~ Capt, Passenger, OH

Butler, Clint P ~ Sgt, Passenger, AR

Carpenter, Thomas J, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, AL

Frazier, Weldon W ~ 1st Sgt, Passenger, TX

Geis, Raymond J, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, IL

Ginter, Frank ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, NY

Gross, Stanley G ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, IL

Holm, Keith T ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NE

Kachorek, Joseph E ~ T/4, Passenger, WI

Landrum, Harvey E, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, TX

Lawrence, Stanley C ~ Sgt, Passenger, WI

Loop, Carlin E ~ Pfc, Passenger, KS

Mettam, Joseph B ~ Cpl, Passenger, CA

Samples, Charles, Jr ~ Sgt, Passenger, WV

Shrake, William M ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, IN

Staseowski, John J ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, MA

Steiner, Charles R ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, OH

Thompson, Robert C ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, AL

Walker, Melvin F ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, WI

Young, Emory C ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, IL

Bio & Listing by:

Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

~

Stanley Charles Lawrence was the son of Charles T. Lawrence and Sophia Anna "Sophie".

The 1930 US Census shows Stan as living with his family in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The following people are shown as living in the home:

Head Charles Lawrence M 39 Wisconsin

Wife Sophie Lawrence F 48 Wisconsin

Dau Hazel S Lawrence F 16 Wisconsin

Son Stanley C Lawrence M 11 Wisconsin

Dau Eileen E Lawrence F 8 Wisconsin

Dau Grace B Lawrence F 5 Wisconsin

Son Marvin J Lawrence M 3 Wisconsin

Stan joined the Army National Guard as a field artilleryman on 10/15/1940. After completing basic training in Louisiana, he transferred to the Army Air Corps. Over the next year he completed his training as an armorer and aerial gunner at various school sites around the United States, qualifying as an Aerial Gunner and receiving his wings. Stan served in the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and New Guinea, seeing considerable action in the South Pacific Theater of Operations with the 822nd Bomber Squadron, 38th Bomber Group, Medium, 5th United States Air Force, were he served as an armorer and gunner on a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.

Lieutenant General George C. Kenney, the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific area, personally presented Stan with the Air Medal at a ceremony held at an Allied Advance Base, somewhere in New Guinea. The citation of his Air Medal was as follows:

"For meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight over the Bismarck Sea near New Britain on December 1, 1942.

"This B-25-type aircraft was one of six engaged in a bombing attack on an enemy convoy, consisting of four destroyers. The bombers were intercepted by twelve Zero-type enemy fighters which concentrated on making head-on passes at the leading flight of three bombers. However, the bombing run was maintained, despite the heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the four naval warships and the continuous attacks of the hostile fighters, and at least one direct hit and three near misses were scored on the leading ship of the convoy.

"All three bombers of the leading flight were damaged by the Zero's guns, one of them bursting into flames and crashing. The other wingman was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was forced to cease operations.

"With the Zeros still pressing home their attacks, this crew of the leading aircraft elected to reduce speed in order to protect the crippled airplane and, taking advantage of cloud cover available, skillfully led the flight back to base. Two of the intercepting planes were destroyed, while hits were scored on at least three more hostile aircraft. The courage, ability, and devotion to duty displayed by these crew members on this occasion are worthy of commendation."

On March 22, 1944 while flying as a passenger on a B-24D bomber being used as a transport plane nicknamed "Weezie", Stan and his fellow passengers and crew were killed when the plane slammed into Mt Thumb in New Guinea. The plane's serial number was #42-41081. The planes disappearance/wreckage was reported on Missing Air Crew Report #4090.

Stan was survived by his mother, Mrs. Charles T.(Sophie) Lawrence, who lived at 117 1/2 West Grand Avenue, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at the time of his death.

Entered the service from Wisconsin.

Staff Sergeant Stanley Charles Lawrence, Sn# 20656522, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:

- Army Air Corps Aerial Gunner's Wings

- Purple Heart Medal

- Air Medal

- Army Good Conduct Medal

- American Defense Service Medal

- American Campaign Medal

- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with bronze battle/campaign stars

- World War II Victory Medal

- Philippine Liberation Medal

- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon

Stan was declared dead even though his body was lost and not recovered during the war. His name was inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery

Manila, Philippines, where it can still be seen today. However, in 1981, the crash site of B-24-D Weezie was discovered. His remains were recovered in 1982 from the crash site along with the remains of all the other crew/passengers who were killed that day. His remains were buried in the Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, next to his mother's grave. You may see his headstone at Find-A-Grave memorial #69055638.