The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to stand in silent Honor and Respect for 2Lt Jack Arnett, U.S. Army Air Corps WWII MIA, as he is given his final rest at 1400 on 15 May 2010 in Friendly, WV.
LT Arnett was a replacement pilot on B-24J-45 Liberator #42-73453, shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 1 September 1944 near Palau in the South Pacific ( http://tinyurl.com/2dxjukc ). After a 10 year search, the wreckage was located by the Bent Prop organization on 26 January 2004, along with the remains of the 11-man crew. Mass interment of those crew members will be held at ANC on 29 April (http://tinyurl.com/28ec3yo). Lt Arnett?s cremated remains will be interred in the family plot in Friendly, WV.
The crew members of the B24 Liberator bomber "Babes In Arms", known as B24-453, are to be laid to their final Heroes' rest on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on 29 April, 2010 beginning with services at the Old Post Chapel on Ft Myers at 1100 hours. Those services will be preceded by a visitation at Murphy's funeral Home on 28 April, 2010 from 1800-2000 hours.
PGR will mount an Honor Flag Line for the visitation on 28 APR, and then, on 29 APR, will: render Honors at the FH as these Heroes are prepared for transport to ANC; provide a mounted escort from the FH to ANC and the Old Chapel; mount an Honor Flag Line for the chapel service; and then follow the procession from the chapel to graveside and render Honors there in cadence with the ANC Honor Guard.
B24 Liberator bomber "Babes In Arms" number 42-73453, known as B24-453, was on a mission originating on Wake Island in the Pacific, and was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashed 01 September, 1944. Quoting the Army mission report: "Two direct hits were observed in the left wing, and #2 engine burst into flames, just as the formation reached the bomb release line. The bomb load was salvoed and the left wing broke off; the fuselage broke in two just before the plane spun into the water between Koror Island and Babelthuap Island."
The wreck was discovered in 2005 in 60 feet of water. JPAC identified the remains which have been returned for burial.
Members of the crew will be buried in a joint interment at Arlington National Cemetery.
The crew:
Pilot 2nd Lt. Jack S. M. Arnett, O-809803 (MIA) Friendly, WV Co-Pilot F/O William B. Simpson, T-2389 (MIA) Bombardier 2nd Lt. Frank J. Arhar, O-709240 (MIA) Navigator 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Schumacher, O-762989 (POW / MIA) Engineer T/Sgt Robert J. Stinson, 39167263 (MIA) Gunner S/Sgt Leland D. Price, 15080991 (MIA) Radio T/Sgt Charles T. Goulding, 32626618 (MIA) Radio S/Sgt John Moore, 38512637 (POW / MIA) Gunner S/Sgt Earl E. Yoh, 35558843 (MIA) Photographer Sgt Alexander R. Vick, 6553144 (POW / MIA) Tail Gunner S/Sgt Jimmie Doyle 38346235 (MIA) McKinney, TX
These Heroes will be laid to their final rest on the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on 29 April, 2010.
PGR has been invited to participate, and mission planning is underway. Check back here for the final plans.
David "SilverBack" Slone Assistant State Captain, Arlington National Cemetery 301-758-5608 (cell) 434-563-7155 (res) david.slone@pobox.com 163 Hickory Lane, Barboursville, VA 22923
|