Lawler served with the 5th Air Force, 38th Bombardment Group, 70th Bombardment Squadron. He was a crewman on B-26B #41-17558, nicknamed 'Dixie Belle', that took off from Henderson Field Guadalcanal with a group of eight other planes to return to their home field on Espiritu Santo Island. They encountered bad storms and the pilot radioed that he was experiencing mechanical problems and was going to ditch in the ocean. The plane went down about 323 miles southeast of Guadalcanal, broke up on impact and sank. No one was seen to make it out of the plane. A search of the area failed to find any of the crew.
Because his body was not recovered, his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. Lawler received the Purple heart.
His family were farmers, then owned a general store in Farley, Iowa
Lawler served with the 5th Air Force, 38th Bombardment Group, 70th Bombardment Squadron. He was a crewman on B-26B #41-17558, nicknamed 'Dixie Belle', that took off from Henderson Field Guadalcanal with a group of eight other planes to return to their home field on Espiritu Santo Island. They encountered bad storms and the pilot radioed that he was experiencing mechanical problems and was going to ditch in the ocean. The plane went down about 323 miles southeast of Guadalcanal, broke up on impact and sank. No one was seen to make it out of the plane. A search of the area failed to find any of the crew.
Because his body was not recovered, his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. Lawler received the Purple heart.
His family were farmers, then owned a general store in Farley, Iowa
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Iowa.
Family Members
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