2nd Lt. Arthur Carl Resech
Born: 1 June 1924 – Oak Park, Illinois
Parents: Carl H. & Helga Resech
Siblings: 3 brothers, 1 sister
Hometown:
– 114 Rockford Street – Forest Park, Illinois
Education:
– Saint John’s Lutheran School
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1942
– left before class graduated
Occupation: Continental Can Company – Chicago
Inducted:
– U.S. Army Air Corps
– Unknown
– Officer Candidate School
Serial Number: O&2023599
Training:
– San Antonio, Texas – San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center – July 1943
– received training to attend flight school
– Strother Field, Kansas – flight school – October 1943
– California
– B-24 – pilot
Unit:
– 5th Bomb Group, 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 13th Army Air Force
– B-24s known as “Snoopers” because of low-level bombing missions
Engagements:
– fought in South Pacific from December 1944 – April 1945
– reported wounded – Chicago Tribune – 10 December 1944
Missing in Action:
– 18 April 1945 – Celebes Islands, Dutch East Indies
– 23rd mission
– plane rammed by Japanese Kamikaze while on mission
– crashed into water in flames
– his family informed of his death – 19 May 1945
Memorial:
– Tablets of the Missing – American Military Cemetery – Manila, Philippine Islands
Medals:
– Purple Heart
– Air Medal
