Paul Petrucka
Second Lieutenant Paul Petrucka was a Marine pilot who flew with VMSB-233.
He was killed in a training accident near Moloka’i, Hawaii, on 12 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-12810
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 17, 1918
at Mahanoy City, PA
Parents
Martin Petrucka
Catherine (Chernock) Petrucka
Education
Mahanoy Area High School (1935)
Albright College (1941)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
August 15, 1941 (enlisted)
August 12, 1942 (commission)
Home Of Record
334 West Center Street
Mahanoy City, PA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Catherine Petrucka
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMSB-233
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Paul Petrucka was a Marine scout bomber pilot stationed at Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1942. He was completing advanced training with VMSB-233 prior to his first overseas deployment.
On 12 October 1942, Petrucka and Private Elvert B. Jordan took off for a routine training flight. They ran into trouble around 0940 hours – the exact cause is not known – and Petrucka decided to attempt a water landing. The aircraft (SBD-2 #02141) hit the ocean one mile offshore of Moloka’i. A crash boat pulled Private Jordan from the water; he was treated for shock and returned to duty a few days later.
Lieutenant Petrucka was killed in the crash, and his body went down with the plane.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; plane crashed at sea.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Martin & Catherine Petrucka.
Location Of Loss
Petrucka’s crash occurred approximately one mile off the coast of Moloka’i.
