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John Robert Matuszak

PFC John R. Matuszak was a Marine aviator and radioman with VMJ-253.
He was killed in a non-combat crash near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 13 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 380541

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

February 3, 1920
at Chicago, IL

Parents

John Joseph Matuszak (d. 1927)
Salomea “Sally” (Zywicki) Matuszak

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Apprentice Pharmacist
Olson Drug Store

Service Life

Entered Service

March 2, 1942
at Chicago, IL

Home Of Record

4906 North Marmora Avenue
Chicago, IL

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Salomea Matuszak

Military Specialty

Aviation Radioman

Primary Unit

VMJ-253

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Air Medal
Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC John Matuszak was a radioman assigned to VMJ-253, a Marine transport squadron operating in the Solomon Islands. His squadron made frequent flights between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal, delivering much-needed supplies and evacuating wounded men. By mid-November 1942, VMJ-253 had transported more than a thousand patients from the battlefield to rear-area hospitals. Matuszak was individually commended for making back-to-back trips at a critical point in the battle and helping to unload cargo under fire. This feat earned him an Air Medal recommendation.

On 13 November 1942, Matuszak was assigned as radioman for 2Lt. Joseph N. Abel on a routine cargo flight to Henderson Field. Weather conditions deteriorated as they approached Guadalcanal; by 1815 hours, a “blinding rain” was lashing the airfield. The plane (R4D-1 #4696) made a vain attempt to land, then opened the throttle to come around for another pass.

As the big plane crossed over the coastline, it was seen to bank sharply – just before a downdraft flipped it completely upside down. The crew had no chance to recover or bail out, and the plane exploded when it hit the water. Due to the weather – and a crash site  “adjacent to enemy territory” – no rescue efforts could be made.

Burial Information or Disposition

The entire crew was posted as missing in action on 13 November, and declared dead as of 11 December 1943.

No remains were recovered from the crash, although other pilots noticed “on a clear day the wrecked plane can be seen on the bottom of the bay, the water at that point being a depth of 40 feet or less.”

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Sally Matuszak.

Location Of Loss

Approximate area of the crash site off Guadalcanal’s northern coast.

Related Profiles

Lost in crash of R4D-1 4696
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