World War II Honoree

Arthur D. Oakes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Olympia, Washington

Honored By

Althea Katherine Oakes

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS A FRONT GUNNER IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 2ND AIR DIVISION, 145TH BOMBER WING, 492ND BOMB GROUP AT NORTH PINKENHAM, ENGLAND. ENTERED COMBAT MAY 11, 1944. ON 3RD MISSION, MAY 19, 1944 THE B-24 'BOOMERANG' WAS SHOT DOWN. CAPTURED IN TUITJEHORN, NORTH HOLLAND AND CONFINED AS A PRISONER OF WAR AT STALAG LUFT 4 UNTIL CAMP EVACUATION ON FEBRUARY 6, 1945. THE PRISONERS OF WAR MADE 'THE BLACK MARCH', APPROXIMATELY 600 KILOMETERS UNTIL MAY 2, 1945. ON JUNE 7, 1945 HE DEPARTED FOR THE U.S. AND WAS DISCHARGED ON OCTOBER 29, 1945. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL AND THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON.