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- Birth
-
Hodgdon, Aroostook County, Maine, USA
- Death
- 16 Aug 1950 (aged 33)
- Burial
-
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
- Plot
- Sec: 8, Site: 6423 RH
- Memorial ID
- 49254256 View Source
2 SILVER STARS 2 DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES
AIR MEDAL WITH SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER
PURPLE HERT
4 PRESIDENTIAL CITATIONS
He was the son of Herbert Manuel and Ida (Taylor) Manuel.
Manuel was the bombardier on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Manuel and two others managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean. The three men were not able to find each other and only Manuel was able to evade capture. His two crew mates were later executed by the Japanese.
Manuel made it to shore on New Britain Island and was able to avoid the Japanese with the help of locals. He eventually was able to join some Australian coastwatchers and other downed Allied airmen. After nearly nine months behind enemy lines he and the other airmen were rescued by the submarine USS Gato.
After the war the book '70,000 to 1' was published about his experiences. He was commissioned into the Air Force as a second Lieutenant and ended his service as a Captain.
-- After all he had gone through, all he had survived and all he had accomplished, he did not live very long after the war. He was medically discharged from the military in 1948 for an illness he acquired in his 9 months in the jungle . He spent the next 2 years in and out of hospitals until he succumbed. He was only 33.
The story of his WWII experience inspired thousands for decades.
He left behind his wife Mary and his little boy Gordon Jr. - edited from the Times Herald.
Wed, Aug 23, 1950 ·Page 12, Washington D. C.
2 SILVER STARS 2 DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES
AIR MEDAL WITH SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER
PURPLE HERT
4 PRESIDENTIAL CITATIONS
He was the son of Herbert Manuel and Ida (Taylor) Manuel.
Manuel was the bombardier on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Manuel and two others managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean. The three men were not able to find each other and only Manuel was able to evade capture. His two crew mates were later executed by the Japanese.
Manuel made it to shore on New Britain Island and was able to avoid the Japanese with the help of locals. He eventually was able to join some Australian coastwatchers and other downed Allied airmen. After nearly nine months behind enemy lines he and the other airmen were rescued by the submarine USS Gato.
After the war the book '70,000 to 1' was published about his experiences. He was commissioned into the Air Force as a second Lieutenant and ended his service as a Captain.
-- After all he had gone through, all he had survived and all he had accomplished, he did not live very long after the war. He was medically discharged from the military in 1948 for an illness he acquired in his 9 months in the jungle . He spent the next 2 years in and out of hospitals until he succumbed. He was only 33.
The story of his WWII experience inspired thousands for decades.
He left behind his wife Mary and his little boy Gordon Jr. - edited from the Times Herald.
Wed, Aug 23, 1950 ·Page 12, Washington D. C.
Gravesite Details
CAPT USAF WW II
Family Members
- Created by: John C. Anderson
- Added: Mar 6, 2010
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
-
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49254256/gordon_richard-manuel: accessed ), memorial page for Capt Gordon Richard Manuel (4 Apr 1917–16 Aug 1950), Find a Grave Memorial ID 49254256, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by John C. Anderson (contributor 47208015).