Edward Broderick Cohen
First Lieutenant Edward B. Cohen was a Marine pilot with VMSB-236
He was reported missing in action on a mission to Monoitu Mission, Bougainville, on 27 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-16707
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 6, 1922
at Brooklyn, NY
Parents
Dr. Joseph Broderick Cohen
Fannie (Goldstein) Cohen
Education
Mineola High School
New York State School of Agriculture
(Farmingdale State College)
Occupation & Employer
Horticulturist
Plant nursery
Service Life
Entered Service
March 26, 1942 (enlisted)
January 15, 1943 (officer)
Home Of Record
189 Mineola Boulevard
Mineola, NY
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Fannie G. Cohen
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMSB-236
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons (two tours)
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 27 January 1944, took off from Piva Airfield in SBD-4 06799 for a routine evening search flight along southwestern coast of Bougainville Island. Lieutenant Cohen dropped a bomb on a Japanese bivouac area near Monoitu Mission and “was apparently turning back to survey the damage done.” The other plane on the flight lost sight of Cohen and returned to base alone.
Cohen and Corporal Frank Goalby were never seen alive again. Both were posted as missing after the mission, and declared dead on 16 January 1945.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Fannie Cohen.
Location Of Loss
Cohen and Goalby were last seen over Monoitu Mission, Bougainville.
