Henry William Schroeder
PFC Henry W. “Hank” Schroeder was a Marine aviator who flew with VMTB-233. He operated the radio in an Avenger torpedo bomber.
Schroeder’s aircraft was shot down over Ballale, Solomon Islands, on 16 September 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 447659
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 12, 1925
at Chicago, IL
Parents
Harry Henry Schroeder
Delia Josephine (Shoemaker) Schroeder
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
August 27, 1942
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
1923 North Dayton Street
Chicago, IL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Delia Schroeder
Military Specialty
Aviator / Radio Operator
Primary Unit
VMTB-233
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Henry “Hank” Schroeder served as a radio operator in a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber during the campaign for the northern Solomon Islands. He began flying combat missions in August, and by mid-September was well familiar with his squadron and crew, as well as the sights and sounds of his home base at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.
On 16 September 1943, VMTB-233 took off for the third of three strikes against Ballale Airfield in the Shortland Islands, just south of Bougainville. The previous strikes were extremely successful, and on both missions all planes returned safely.
The Americans did not get off clean on the final strike. A Navy TBF crashed and exploded on the runway, and PFC Schroeder’s Avenger – TBF-1 #06452, with 1Lt. Edward A. Croker and Corporal William L. Casper aboard – was not seen again after the bombing run. The three Marines were listed as missing in action, and finally declared dead on 10 January 1946.
After the war, it was learned that Lt. Croker managed to bail out of the Avenger and was captured by the Japanese. “He was the only man saved out of his plane,” related Reverend Joseph Lamarre, an Australian civilian imprisoned alongside Croker. The pilot died at the hands of his Japanese captors.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Delia Schroeder.
Location Of Loss
Croker, Casper, and Schroeder were shot down in the vicinity of Ballale.
