A complete group of medals, photos, certificates, service records to a 1st Lieutenant navigator / bombardier who flew on a B-25D of 71st Bomber Squadron, 38th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force and who was killed in action in New Guinea on 27th July 1943. The medals were posthumously awarded to 1st Lieutenant William R Shank, seriel number 0659595. From Suffolk County in Massachusetts. He was born in 1919 and enlisted in the United States Air Force at Boston, on 28 October 1941. He was killed along with the rest of his crew on 27 July 1943 when their. B-25D aircraft, during a practice bombing run on the damaged S. Had a bomb they released knocked off their stabilizer, causing them to crash into the sea between Idihi and Bravo Islands, 10 miles north of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The group includes the the Air Medal with the reverse engraved 1st. With two bronze oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart with the reverse engraved William R. The American Defence Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars on ribbon and the Victory Medal 1945 together with a Presidential Unit Citation ribbon bar, with two bronze oak leaf clusters. 38th Bombardment Group were awarded four Presidential Unit Citations for their combat service in Papua New Guinea between 23 July 1942 and 23 January 1943. There is a file of research including a. Photograph of the recipient receiving his Air Medal from Lieutenant-General G. Kenny, a photo of. Lieutenant Shank inside and aircraft, a photo of their aircraft, a memorial certificate from the City of Boston, a copy of the Missing Air Crew Report confirming that the aircraft crashed 10 miles northwest of Port Moresby New Guinea, a statement of service, a copy of a letter from his sister to the Quarter Master General in Washington, a copy of the casualty reporting form with details of the 5 air crew killed, a copy of the case history, a letter to his sister from the Captain QMC confirming that they had been unable to find the remains of Lieutenant Shank, copies of extracts from, the history of the 71st Bomb Squadron, extracts of the history of the 38th Bombardment Group, a copy of the inventory of effects left by Lieutenant Shank, a copy of the page from’Bombs Away’ giving detailsand a photo of William R Shank and a letter from’Bombardiers’ confirming the 1st Lt William R Shank graduated from bombardier class 42-6 on 30th April 1942 at Midland Army Air Field in Texas. All five members of the crew were killed in the crash. Three of the crews members remains were found but sadly no trace was ever found of Lieutenant Shank. Lieutenant Shank is commemorated on the American memorial in Manilla. A great and complete collection from a brave airmen who sadly lost his life in the service of his country a long way from home. Please let me know if you need any additional photos or details. Please see my other listings of British and foreign medals and awards. Thanks and kind regards. The item “Complete WW2 US Air Force Medal Group Killed in Action Named Medals & Photos” is in sale since Friday, June 02, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “harrypitt69″ and is located in Nottingham. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Era: 1914-1945
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
- Service: Air Force
- Country/ Organization: United States
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
