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NAME Albert Ray Irion |
NICKNAME — |
SERVICE NUMBER 410386 |
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| UNIT VMSB-132 Radioman / Gunner |
HOME OF RECORD Arah Route Snyder, TX |
NEXT OF KIN Father, Mr. Lewis M. Irion |
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| DATE OF BIRTH February 11, 1922 at Snyder, TX |
ENTERED SERVICE August 17, 1942 at San Diego, CA |
DATE OF LOSS June 30, 1943 |
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| REGION Solomon Islands |
CAMPAIGN / AREA Kolombangara |
CASUALTY TYPE Missing In Action Declared Dead July 1, 1945 |
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CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS On 30 June 1943, PFC Irion flew in 1Lt. Robert H. McArdle‘s Dauntless bomber (SBD-5 #10822) for a strike against an airfield at Villa, on the island of Kolombangara. The squadron arrived over their target at 1120 hours and began their attack in the face of “fairly intense” anti-aircraft fire. Lt. McArdle’s aircraft was seen to enter its dive, but was missing when the squadron regrouped for the return flight. A total of seven aircraft failed to return, but all crews were rescued in the week that followed. Only McArdle and Irion remained missing. No trace of the two Marines or their aircraft was ever found. McArdle and Irion were declared dead on 1 July 1945. |
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| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Purple Heart |
LAST KNOWN RANK Private First Class |
STATUS OF REMAINS Not recovered |
MEMORIALS Manila American Cemetery |
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Biography:
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