John served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Elizabeth City County, Virginia prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on April 21, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of paper goods and also as Single, without dependents.

John was a passenger on C-47A #42-23870 that was assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron, U.S. Army Air Forces.

C-47A #42-23870 took off, with a crew of 4 & 5 passengers, from Cape Field, Fort Glen, Alaska on a transport mission to Shemya Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. They were last heard from by radio as being approximately 30 miles west of Fort Glenn. After that radio contact they were not seen nor heard from again and believed to have crashed at sea due to severe weather turbulence in the area.

John was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

Service # 33634716

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Airmen who perished on C-47A #42-23870:

Edwards, Frederick A ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NC
Hand, Robert F ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, NC
Hattenbach, Alfred D ~ Pfc, Passenger, PA
Moeller, Clarence A ~ Pfc, Passenger, IL
Norman, John C ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IA
Renstrom, Gerhard N ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, MN
Rhea, John E ~ Pfc, Passenger, VA
Rogers, Charles H, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, ME
Stephens, Delmar R ~ Pvt, Passenger, MI

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:

Siblings:
Walter J Rhea
Calvin W Rhea
Francis A Khun (step-brother)
Margaret Rhea

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John served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Elizabeth City County, Virginia prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on April 21, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of paper goods and also as Single, without dependents.

John was a passenger on C-47A #42-23870 that was assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron, U.S. Army Air Forces.

C-47A #42-23870 took off, with a crew of 4 & 5 passengers, from Cape Field, Fort Glen, Alaska on a transport mission to Shemya Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. They were last heard from by radio as being approximately 30 miles west of Fort Glenn. After that radio contact they were not seen nor heard from again and believed to have crashed at sea due to severe weather turbulence in the area.

John was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

Service # 33634716

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on C-47A #42-23870:

Edwards, Frederick A ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NC
Hand, Robert F ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, NC
Hattenbach, Alfred D ~ Pfc, Passenger, PA
Moeller, Clarence A ~ Pfc, Passenger, IL
Norman, John C ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IA
Renstrom, Gerhard N ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, MN
Rhea, John E ~ Pfc, Passenger, VA
Rogers, Charles H, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, ME
Stephens, Delmar R ~ Pvt, Passenger, MI

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:

Siblings:
Walter J Rhea
Calvin W Rhea
Francis A Khun (step-brother)
Margaret Rhea

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