World War II Honoree

Samuel L. Crown, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Honored By

All Veterans , Friends & Family

ON MARCH 25, 1944 CROWN AND HIS CREW TOOK OFF IN THEIR PV-1 VENTURA BOMBER FROM THEIR BASE ON ATTU ISLAND, ALASKA, HEADED FOR ENEMY TARGETS IN THE KURILE ISLANDS OF JAPAN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PART OF A FIVE-PLANE FLIGHT WHICH ENCOUNTERED HEAVY WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MISSION. ABOUT SIX HOURS INTO THE MISSION, THE BASE AT ATTU NOTIFIED THE PILOT LIEUTENANT WHITMAN BY RADIO OF HIS BEARING. THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE CREW. WHEN WHITMAN'S AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RETURN, AN OVER WATER SEARCH WAS INITIATED BY SURFACE SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT IN AN AREA EXTENDING 200 MILES FROM ATTU, BUT NO WRECKAGE WAS FOUND. IN JANUARY 2000, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U.S. RUSSIA JOINT COMMISSION ON POW, MISSING IN ACTION RECEIVED A REPORT FROM A RUSSIAN CITIZEN WHO HAD DISCOVERED WRECKAGE IN 1962 OF A U.S. AIRCRAFT ON THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA ON THE EAST COAST OF RUSSIA. PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS CROWN AND SIX OF HIS CREW MEMBERS WERE FOUND.