World War II Honoree

Russell E. Oaks

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

East Taylor, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Raymond Tamowski

Relationship

Family Friend

HE WAS A SERGEANT IN THE 322ND FIGHTER CONTROL SQUADRON OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES DURING WWII. HE WAS ABOARD TROOP SHIP HMT ROHNA IN A CONVOY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, BOUND FOR BURMA, WHEN HIS SHIP WAS SUNK BY A GERMAN BOMBER. THE BOMBER LAUNCHED A GUIDED GLIDE BOMB WHICH STRUCK THE ROHNA. NEWS OF THIS EVENT WAS KEPT SECRET UNTIL THE YEAR 2000. INITIALLY REPORTS OF THE SINKING WERE KEPT SECRET TO PREVENT THE GERMANS FROM KNOWING HOW SUCCESSFUL THEIR GUIDED BOMBS WERE. SURVIVORS OF THE SINKING WERE EVENTUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN HAVING DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY RELEASED, AFTER YEARS OF TRYING. HE IS LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION/LOST AT SEA. HE WAS ONE OF 1,015 AMERICAN SERVICEMEN WHO PERISHED AS A RESULT OF THE SINKING OF THE ROHNA.