Edward Michael Slipkas
Staff Sergeant Edward M. Slipkas was a Marine aviator with VMTB-233.
He was shot down over Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, on 14 February 1944, and died while a prisoner of war.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 323548
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 7, 1915
at Lawrence, MA
Parents
Vaclavas “Walter” Slipkauskas
Ona “Anna” (Retkeviciuke) Slipkauskas (d. 1941)
Education
John Fitch High School
Occupation & Employer
Underwood Typewriter Company
Service Life
Entered Service
November 13, 1941
at Springfield, MA
Home Of Record
916 Poquonock Avenue
Windsor, CT
Next Of Kin
Brother, Mr. Walter Slipkas
Military Specialty
Aerial gunner
Primary Unit
VMTB-233
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
First tour April-June 1943, VMSB-131
Individual Decorations
Air Medal with Gold Star
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Edward Slipkauskas (known as “Slipkas” while in the service) was a veteran Marine Corps bomber crewman. He served his first combat tour in the Solomon Islands with VMSB-131; when the squadron returned to the United States, Slipkas transferred to VMTB-233. A fellow Windsor, Connecticut native – Staff Sergeant John H. Schillinger, Jr. – was also aboard the -223, but was lost on one of the squadron’s first Rabaul strikes.
On 14 February 1944, VMTB-233 ordered a mission to lay mines in Rabaul’s Simpson Harbor. Dropping a Mark 12 naval mine from an Avenger required slow speed and low altitude, so planners decided to send three separate waves at one-hour intervals under cover of darkness. Group B – which included pilot 1Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius, radioman PFC Edwin D. St. Germain, and turret gunner Slipkas in Plane #10 – departed Piva airfield at 0130 for the ninety-minute flight to Rabaul.
Unfortunately for the attackers, Japanese spotlight crews were on the alert – and “very accurate in picking up the planes and keeping them in the light.” Although Group B followed a different approach route than Group A, anti-aircraft gunners quickly adjusted and opened fire on the low, slow targets. Cornelius’ Avenger (TBF-1 47506) was seen to smoke, strike water in Blanche Bay, and bounce before sinking. VMTB-233 lost a total of six Avengers and eighteen Marines on the disastrous mission.
The entire crew of #10 was declared dead on 15 February 1945. Cornelius was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross, while St. Germain and Slipkas received Air Medals.
Burial Information or Disposition
Records located after the war indicate that at least two of the crew – Cornelius and Slipkas – survived the crash landing and were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Both would die in captivity at Rabaul: Cornelius of “disease” on 29 April, and Slipkas in a “bombing” on 12 April. His squadronmate Private Cecil M. White also died as a POW on 12 April; either or both may have been executed.
Hugh Cornelius and Edwin St. Germain were identified from remains buried at Finshaffen Cemetery #5; Slipkas may be among the remains yet to be investigated.
Memorials
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
World War II Memorial, Windsor, Connecticut
Next Of Kin Address
Address of brother, Mr. Walter Slipkas.
Location Of Loss
Slipkas died while being held as a POW at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.
