Private First Class Riego Miguel the Flight Engineer of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, flying amphibious OA-10s, also known as PBYs. It was in this capacity that he lost his life during a routine training flight off Makapu Point, O'ahu, Territory Of Hawaii, USA. Seven other men also died in that crash, one half mile off shore. They include the six member crew and two soldiers getting a transport ride. Although the crash was observed as it happened by many people on shore and in the Hickam Field tower, and rescue efforts were launched immediately, no bodies were ever recovered. One plane crew saw a man in the water and dropped a life raft, but with the next pass, the raft and a shark were seen, but not the man. Due to the depth of the water and the sharks in the area, no attempt was ever made to retrieve the airplane. Although the mission of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was to land in the water to effect ocean rescues, the official report blamed the crash on "pilot error" for flying too close to the water. Several eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was already in flames before hitting the water.

Crew, 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron:
1st Lt Harris Kamis
2nd Lt Benjamin F Colson
2nd Lt Vincent G Badolato
Sgt Stanley R Kelley
Cpl Bedford K Metzger Jr
Pfc Riego C Miguel

Passengers:
1st Sgt Joseph G Ritchie
Pfc Richard K Albert

The Riego C. Miguel found in the World War II Army Enlistment Records database has a similar Service Number, 30125784, to the ABMC's of 30124784; it is not known which, if either, is in error. The two men attached to these numbers have Hawaii in common. Riego was born in the Hawaiian Islands with a Filippino background. His residence is not coded nor is his place of enlistment though he entered service on February 16, 1946. He was a single clergyman in civilian life. There is a notation, "Enlistment for the Philippine Department". Miguel's family erected a memorial to him and his fellows aboard the aircraft. It is near the beach overlooking where the plane went down. On the plaque attached to the memorial, his name is Reigo Castillo Miguel.

Resources:

* Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records); "Miguel, Riego ASN 30124784 or 30125784"; database found online at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
* Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, August 9, 1946, page 1, banner headline article.
* Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, August 20, 1946, page 1, headline article.
* Kamis, Harris - Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), US Army Human Resources Command.
* Kamis, Harris - Report of Major Accident, HQ Air Force Historical Research Agency.
* News item carried in numerous newspapers across the United States on August 8 or August 9, 1946, seen on NewspaperArchive.
* American Battle Monuments Commission, "World War II database".