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Novogrodsky, Nicholas P., Sgt.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Woodridge/Fallsburg
Casualty Date Sep 14, 1942
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Solomon Islands
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
According to the April 1940 Census, Private Novogrodsky was based at Ewa, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii at Hickam Field with Base HQ, 17th Air Base Squadron (Double).
He was assigned as an air crewman to the 26th Bomber Squadron (H), 11th Bomber Group (H). The 11th, known as "The Gray Geese", first flew the B-18, and then in April 1941 were given the B-17. The unit flew initial operations, patrolling over the Pacific. even sinking a Japanese submarine in January 1942. They flew against Wake Island and then to Midway.
His unit was one of the first to be transferred into the PTO, serving with both the 7th/13th Air Forces. His unit, the 11th Bombardment Group was involved with the Battle of Midway in June 1942. They moved to the New Hebrides in July 1942. "They bombed airfields, supply dumps, ships, docks, troop positions, and other objectives in the South Pacific from July to November 1942, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for those operations." The unit was also awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation for the assistance given to the Navy. Most of the aircraft were lost in combat by 1943.
His unit was operating out of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal at the time of his loss. He had previously been based out of Efate Airfield, Efate, New Hebrides, 25 July 1942. Forward echelon operated from: Turtle Bay Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Aug 1942.
He is memorialized at Hillside Cemetery, Woodbourne, New York, near his parents, Michael and Katherine, who were both born in Poland.
His remains were not recoverable. The Hillside marker was placed in 1962.
Comments/Citation:
From Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 16351: (note written in March 1948)
This B-17E (tail number 41-2527) was lost at night on its return from a bombing mission north from the New Hebrides, Solomon Islands Area, in search of Japanese ships. It was not able to find the radio beam on its return, and was forced to land in the sea, sinking thereafter. No remains of crew or the wreckage were ever found.
Crew lost:
Captain Hugh W. Owens (P) Eutaw, Alabama
1st Lt. George W. Chandler (Co P) Spokane, Washington
2nd Lt. Emory L. Hall (N) Erie, Pennsylvania
MSgt. Thomas L. Daly (B) Honolulu, Hawaii
SSgt. Wilbur R. "Roland" Long (CE) Emmitsburg, Maryland
Sgt. Edgar L. Stone (G) Lexington, Missouri
Sgt. Nicholas B. Novogrodsky (Asst. CE) Woodridge, New York
Sgt. Harry Bolles, Jr. (R) San Francisco, California
Cpl. John G. Jones (Asst. RO) Canton, Ohio
Note:
A full history of the combat actions of the 11th Bombardment Group (H) in the PTO can be found in 11th Bomb Group (H): The Grey Geese, Turner Publishing. Kentucky, 1996.
