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| Lt jg Donald Henry was an Avenger torpedo bomber pilot serving on the USS Essex. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10214333/donald-augustus-henry |
Donald Augustus Henry never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 6, 1918 in Idaho. His parents Claud and Ella were both born in Nebraska. His father worked as a farmer. Donald had one older brother. His mother died in 1922 during childbirth. It appears that the baby did not survive either. His father remarried the next year.
Donald enlisted in the US Navy through the US Naval Reserve in 1942. He was trained as a pilot and ended up as a lieutenant junior grade flying Avenger torpedo bombers from the carrier USS Essex.
In his career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (I don't have the details) and a Presidential Citation that reads as follows:
For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as a pilot of a fighter plane in air group four, attached to the USS Essex during action against enemy Japanese forces in Luzon,, Formosa and French Indochina areas, from January 3 to January 12, 1945. Courageous and determined in the face of merciless fire from hostile antiaircraft guns, Lieutenant junior grade Henry frequently braved treacherous weather to participate in a series of daring strikes against the enemy. Fighting his plane with aggressive and determined skill during an attack on a Japanese tanker and scoring two hits which resulted in the probable sinking of the vessel. By his gallant fighting spirit and tireless efforts, Lieutenant junior grade Henry contributed materially to the success of his squadron's mission.
Later that month of January he was part of a bombing mission over Saigon. When his bomb failed to release, Henry radioed for permission to return for a second attempt even though his would be the only plane going back and would be the target off all AA fire. After dropping his bomb his plane was hit. Lt. Henry managed to land the plane in a jungle clearing. The bombardier was killed by enemy fire, but Lt. Henry and his radio man escaped and were aided and hid by Free French forces.
By April their hiding place had been betrayed to the Japanese. Lt. Henry was executed on April 27, 1945.
See comment below for more details about the fate of Lt. Henry.
His grave is at Pineview Cemetery in Ashton, Idaho.
Last year on this date I profiled Alfred Brockel. You can read about Alfred here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Thanks to Mark Herber from the WWII Pictures Facebook group who provide this link with more details about the fate of Lt. Henry: http://www.airgroup4.com/saigon.htm
ReplyDeletesalute the fallen who fought for the freedom of all the peoples of the world
ReplyDeleteLt. Henry's radioman-gunner ARM Ellsworth Shirley was killed near their aircraft, Lt. Henry survived the crash with severe burns but evaded Japanese troops. He joined up with the surviving crew of a downed Navy PBM, but was killed in a fire fight with the Japanese.
ReplyDelete