John Lawrence Whiteis
PFC John L. Whiteis served as a turret gunner with VMTB-233, a Marine torpedo bomber squadron.
He died when his battle-damaged aircraft crashed near Bougainville on 17 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 506039
Current Status
This individual has been recovered or is not recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
1 May 1925
at American Fork, UT
Parents
Newton & Geraldine Whiteis
Education
Eugene High School (ex-44)
Occupation
High school student
Nickname
“Red” Whiteis
Service Life
Entered Service
4 December 1942
at Portland, OR
Home Of Record
2751 University Street
Eugene, OR
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Newton C. Whiteis
Specialty
Aviator; turret gunner
Primary Unit
VMTB-233
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 17 September 1943, VMTB-233 launched a strike against the Japanese-held Bonis Airfield at the northern end of Bougainville. One of the Avenger bombers assigned to the mission was TBF-1 #06093, with pilot 1Lt. Louis Peter Harris, radioman Sgt. Joseph George Henderick, and turret gunner PFC John L. “Red” Whiteis.
The bomber was hit over the target – possibly by antiaircraft fire, though some reports indicate fragments of its own bombs were to blame – and sustained serious damage, losing almost half of its left wing. Lieutenant Harris managed to nurse the crippled plane as far as Empress Augusta Bay, hoping to bail out closer to friendly forces. Two men were seen to jump from the Avenger, but their parachutes failed and they fell to their deaths. The bomber itself fell into the sea about 100 yards from shore and disappeared.
Graves Registration personnel later reported burying Lieutenant Harris and Sergeant Henderick on Bougainville. PFC Whiteis’ body, if it was found, was never identified. He was officially declared dead on 18 November 1944.
Burial Information or Disposition
Remains not recovered.
