John Robert Matuszak
PFC John R. Matuszak was a Marine aviator and radioman with VMJ-253.
He was killed in a non-combat crash near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 13 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 380541
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
February 3, 1920
at Chicago, IL
Parents
John Joseph Matuszak (d. 1927)
Salomea “Sally” (Zywicki) Matuszak
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Apprentice Pharmacist
Olson Drug Store
Service Life
Entered Service
March 2, 1942
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
4906 North Marmora Avenue
Chicago, IL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Salomea Matuszak
Military Specialty
Aviation Radioman
Primary Unit
VMJ-253
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC John Matuszak was a radioman assigned to VMJ-253, a Marine transport squadron operating in the Solomon Islands. His squadron made frequent flights between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal, delivering much-needed supplies and evacuating wounded men. By mid-November 1942, VMJ-253 had transported more than a thousand patients from the battlefield to rear-area hospitals. Matuszak was individually commended for making back-to-back trips at a critical point in the battle and helping to unload cargo under fire. This feat earned him an Air Medal recommendation.
On 13 November 1942, Matuszak was assigned as radioman for 2Lt. Joseph N. Abel on a routine cargo flight to Henderson Field. Weather conditions deteriorated as they approached Guadalcanal; by 1815 hours, a “blinding rain” was lashing the airfield. The plane (R4D-1 #4696) made a vain attempt to land, then opened the throttle to come around for another pass.
As the big plane crossed over the coastline, it was seen to bank sharply – just before a downdraft flipped it completely upside down. The crew had no chance to recover or bail out, and the plane exploded when it hit the water. Due to the weather – and a crash site “adjacent to enemy territory” – no rescue efforts could be made.
Burial Information or Disposition
The entire crew was posted as missing in action on 13 November, and declared dead as of 11 December 1943.
No remains were recovered from the crash, although other pilots noticed “on a clear day the wrecked plane can be seen on the bottom of the bay, the water at that point being a depth of 40 feet or less.”
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Sally Matuszak.
Location Of Loss
Approximate area of the crash site off Guadalcanal’s northern coast.
