Service No. #6327727

United States Naval Reserve

Enlistment Date: 03/17/1942 in Los Angeles, California

Entered the Service from: California

Awards: Purple Heart

Declaration of Death: January 14th, 1946

U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, lists his Next of Kin's Home of Record as Father: Mr. Alvin Posey, Richfield, Kansas. Killed In Action.

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his home of residence as 118 West 4th Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. Contact person is Mrs. Olive Myrtle Murray (Sister) of Star Route, Richfield, Morton County, Kansas. Place of birth listed as Morton County, Kansas on 09/02/1910. Middle name listed as Blair. Unemployed as of 10/16/1940 registration date.

U.S., World War II American and Allied Prisoners of War, 1941-1946 lists report date of 10 Jan 1944. Camp: Rabaul Pow Camp Rabaul, New Britain 4-152.

U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group A (Recoverable), 1941-1975 lists his MIA Place as Papua New Guinea (New Guuinea) as of 14 Jan 1946.

Crew-member of PBY-5 Catalina Bureau Number 08436, Patrol Squadron VP-34 that ditched or crashed, due to unknown causes north of New Ireland on January 9, 1944...Believed to have been taken prisoner and executed at Rabaul.

***I would like to thank Terry Posey Find A Grave ID 49789281 for adding his photos to this memorial***

***I would like to thank Buffalo Find A Grave ID 50696055 for adding their photo to this memorial in addition to updating birth/death locations and linking family members to it. Many thanks also for the information listed below***

PBY-5 Catalina Bureau Number 08436

USN FAW-17 VP-34

On January 9, 1944 took off from Samarai Seaplane Base at Samarai Island piloted by Lt(jg) Aljah W. Wright, Jr. on a mission to attack a Japanese convoy off Dyaul Island (Djaul) off the southern coast of New Ireland.

Over the convoy or enemy territory, this Catalina was likely damaged and ditched.

The aircraft's last known location was approximately 100-200 miles north of New Ireland at roughly Lat 2.38 Long 150.45. Another source lists it as crashed at Nago Island off the northwest tip of New Ireland. When this Catalina failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Fates of the Crew

Two of the crew: Henderson and Snow were likely killed in the crash. Both earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Both were officially declared dead on January 14, 1946 and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).The other seven crew: Wright, Malatesta, Osborn, Knight, Posey, Sommerfeldt and Spear were captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), likely from the sea and were transported to Rabaul.

The seven were detained by the Japanese Navy 81st Naval Guard Unit as Prisoners Of War (POW) and first reported on January 10, 1944 and detained at the Tunnel Hill POW Camp.

Five of the crew were seen by POW Lt. John M. Arbuckle pilot PBY Catalina 08428 shot down November 22, 1943 and who survived captivity) he remembered meeting Wright, Malatesta and "another Ensign" [Osborn].

Also, Father Joseph Lemarre who was detainee said he remembered Spear, Sommerfeldt, Posey and Wright as prisoners at Rabaul. He also said that two of the crew had been killed [in the crash].

During the middle of March 1944 Osborn was reported as dead. Two surviving Prisoners Of War (POW) Jose Holquin and James McMurria saw Osborn escorted out of the camp blindfolded, handcuffed and was never seen again. Holquin said this was March 19, 1944. McMurria stated it was on March 10, 1944. Likely, he was executed by the Japanese. Officially, Osborn was declared dead on April 12, 1944.

The fates of the other six members of the crew: Wright, Malatesta, Knight, Posey, Sommerfeldt and Spear are unknown. Likely, all six were executed or died sometime in February 1944 prior to the Tunnel Hill Massacre / Talili Bay Massacre during March 4-5, 1944.

Postwar

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Searcher Teams indicated the seven of the crew (Wright, Malatesta, Osborn, Knight, Spear, Sommerfeldt and Posey) all died at Rabaul. Japanese records falsely claim Malatesta and Knight were aboard Kokai Maru and were killed by U. S. air attack on February 20, 1944 and Osborn was killed by Allied bombing on March 12, 1944.

Source material from multiple public domain websites.

Main source Pacific Wrecks

PBY-5 Catalina Bureau Number 08436

MIA January 9, 1944

Pilot Lt(jg) Aljah W. Wright, Jr., O-114662 "Buck" (POW / MIA, KIA) Dewitt, AK

Crew Ensign Paul J. Malatesta, O-283995 (POW / MIA, KIA) Medford, MA

Crew Ensign Isaac J. Osborn, O-251308 USNR (POW / MIA, KIA) Lavalette, NJ

Crew ARM3c Robert W. Henderson, 6333461 (MIA, KIA) Los Angeles, CA

Crew AOM2c James Knight, Jr., 6024803 (POW / MIA, KIA) Cookeville, TN

Crew AMM2c Jack B. Posey, 6327727 (POW / MIA, KIA) Richfield, KS

Crew AMM2c Lowell I. Snow, 6262833 (MIA / KIA) Kokomo, IN

Crew ACMMA Alfred W. Sommerfeldt, Jr., 3002011 (POW, MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI

Crew ACRMA George L. Spear, 4013925 (POW, MIA / KIA) Norfolk, VA

This is a Memorial Wall. View family cenotaph and family links at Family Cenotaph.