Lt. Arthur L. Gustafson MIA/KIA February 19, 1942 lost when USS Peary was sunk in Darwin harbor.
Graduated USNA, Class of 1936
Hometown: Watertown, South Dakota
Family: Survived by his wife, Mrs. Arthur Leonard Gustafson, and at least one child, a daughter who was married in 1954. He has a memory marker in Iowa.
Ship: USS Peary (DD 226)
Service#O-077158
Awards: Purple Heart
Loss Circumstances:
On the morning of 19 February 1942, Peary was anchored with a full crew in the harbour, preparing to take on fuel from the tanker British Motorist, when Japanese forces launched a direct air attack on Darwin. With no time to raise anchor and conduct evasive manoeuvres, Peary suffered five direct bomb strikes. The first bomb hit the stern, with following strikes setting fire to the galley deckhouse, the aft engine room and forward ammunition magazine, ultimately crippling the vessel. Peary swiftly sank stern first with ninety-three men, including the Captain, US Navy LCdr John Bermingham, lost. Eyewitness accounts state that even as the Peary was sinking, a .30 calibre machine gun on the after deckhouse and a .50 calibre machine gun on the galley deckhouse continued firing until the last of the enemy aircraft were out of range.
Also remembered in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.Added clip for his wife Eva
Graduated USNA, Class of 1936
Hometown: Watertown, South Dakota
Family: Survived by his wife, Mrs. Arthur Leonard Gustafson, and at least one child, a daughter who was married in 1954. He has a memory marker in Iowa.
Ship: USS Peary (DD 226)
Service#O-077158
Awards: Purple Heart
Loss Circumstances:
On the morning of 19 February 1942, Peary was anchored with a full crew in the harbour, preparing to take on fuel from the tanker British Motorist, when Japanese forces launched a direct air attack on Darwin. With no time to raise anchor and conduct evasive manoeuvres, Peary suffered five direct bomb strikes. The first bomb hit the stern, with following strikes setting fire to the galley deckhouse, the aft engine room and forward ammunition magazine, ultimately crippling the vessel. Peary swiftly sank stern first with ninety-three men, including the Captain, US Navy LCdr John Bermingham, lost. Eyewitness accounts state that even as the Peary was sinking, a .30 calibre machine gun on the after deckhouse and a .50 calibre machine gun on the galley deckhouse continued firing until the last of the enemy aircraft were out of range.
Also remembered in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.Added clip for his wife Eva
Lt. Arthur L. Gustafson MIA/KIA February 19, 1942 lost when USS Peary was sunk in Darwin harbor.
Graduated USNA, Class of 1936
Hometown: Watertown, South Dakota
Family: Survived by his wife, Mrs. Arthur Leonard Gustafson, and at least one child, a daughter who was married in 1954. He has a memory marker in Iowa.
Ship: USS Peary (DD 226)
Service#O-077158
Awards: Purple Heart
Loss Circumstances:
On the morning of 19 February 1942, Peary was anchored with a full crew in the harbour, preparing to take on fuel from the tanker British Motorist, when Japanese forces launched a direct air attack on Darwin. With no time to raise anchor and conduct evasive manoeuvres, Peary suffered five direct bomb strikes. The first bomb hit the stern, with following strikes setting fire to the galley deckhouse, the aft engine room and forward ammunition magazine, ultimately crippling the vessel. Peary swiftly sank stern first with ninety-three men, including the Captain, US Navy LCdr John Bermingham, lost. Eyewitness accounts state that even as the Peary was sinking, a .30 calibre machine gun on the after deckhouse and a .50 calibre machine gun on the galley deckhouse continued firing until the last of the enemy aircraft were out of range.
Also remembered in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.Added clip for his wife Eva
Graduated USNA, Class of 1936
Hometown: Watertown, South Dakota
Family: Survived by his wife, Mrs. Arthur Leonard Gustafson, and at least one child, a daughter who was married in 1954. He has a memory marker in Iowa.
Ship: USS Peary (DD 226)
Service#O-077158
Awards: Purple Heart
Loss Circumstances:
On the morning of 19 February 1942, Peary was anchored with a full crew in the harbour, preparing to take on fuel from the tanker British Motorist, when Japanese forces launched a direct air attack on Darwin. With no time to raise anchor and conduct evasive manoeuvres, Peary suffered five direct bomb strikes. The first bomb hit the stern, with following strikes setting fire to the galley deckhouse, the aft engine room and forward ammunition magazine, ultimately crippling the vessel. Peary swiftly sank stern first with ninety-three men, including the Captain, US Navy LCdr John Bermingham, lost. Eyewitness accounts state that even as the Peary was sinking, a .30 calibre machine gun on the after deckhouse and a .50 calibre machine gun on the galley deckhouse continued firing until the last of the enemy aircraft were out of range.
Also remembered in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.Added clip for his wife Eva
Inscription
LT, US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
