Last Known Activity:
Josh K. Askew was born, according to his NARA enlistment record, in Arkansas in 1922. His mother was Martha A. Askew. Evidently, the family moved to Tennessee as Askew claimed Shelby County as his home of records. He enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on December 31, 1942. His record also states he had completed grammar school, was single, and worked as a semi-skilled worker in the production of aircraft.
He completed basic training, and qualified for flight duty. He was assigned to aerial gunnery school, and was promoted to Sergeant when he graduated. Then, he was assigned to the newly-activated 448th Bomb Group at Sioux City, Iowa for combat crew assignment and operational training on gunnery and flight duties on the B-24 type aircraft.
The unit deployed overseas in November 1943, arriving at Seething Air Station, England. Askew and his crew were assigned to the 715th Bomb Squadron, and began flying combat missions in December 1943. On January 5, 1944, they were part of a raid on Kiel, Germany. After bombing the target, the aircraft was attacked by German fighters and shot down. It crashed near Kiel.
Evidently, two members of the crew survived. The remains of the dead were recovered and buried in the New Horst Cemetery in graves 309-311. After the war, Askew was transferred to the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium where he now lies in Plot A, Row 31, Grave 28.
www.findagrave.com/search
www.adoptiengrave-database.nl.index/php
wwwcualumni.clemson.edu/page.aspx?pid=1852
www.warmemorial.us/wikimedia3/index/php?title_JOSH_K_ASKEW
NARA Enlistment records
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Comments/Citation:
Sgt Josh K. Askew was acting as left waist gunner on B-24H # 41-29234, unnamed and with no nose art, assigned to the 715th Bomb Squadron.
Missing Air Crew Report 2517 was issued, and identifies the crew as:
1 Lt Graham G. Guyton p
2 Lt Thomas R. Allen c-p
2 Lt Richard M. Wheelock nav
2 Lt Pickney W. Seiders bomb
TSgt Woodrow Callahan eng/tt gun
SSgt Harold L. Kinot r/o
SSgt Dennis C. Quiland asst eng
SSgt Kenneth Ciolek btg
Sgt Josh K. Askew lwg
SSgt Clark K. Bradley rwg
In one source, Askew's name is given as "Makow." Although the MACR is smudged, it is evident "Askew" is the correct spelling.
It is apparent from later reports that Lts. Allen and Wheelock were the two survivors.
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