42-73324

 

On 24 June 1944, a B-24J, # 42-73324, of the 374th Bomb Squadron, departed Chengkung, China, on a mission to bomb Hankow, China. The aircraft was missing; reason unknown. The crew was comprised of:

                                                      Pilot                 1stLt. Henry F. Portyrata                                 0-742522

                                                      Co-Pilot           2ndLt. James F. Detzel                                    0-699400

                                                      Navigator        2ndLt. William H. Strauch                                0-579828

                                                      Bombardier      1stLt. Carroll R. Maddox                                 0-732628

                                                      Engineer          TSgt Harold G Bailey                                      17164565

                                                      Armorer           SSgt Horace J Miller                                        18096252

Next-of-kin were listed as:

                                  Portyrata          Mrs Frances Portyrata, mother, 13 Florence St, Providence Rhode Island

                                  Maddox           Mr James R Maddox, brother, RFD Bristol Rd, Ivyland, PA

                                  Detzel              Mrs Catherine M Detzel, 12802 Thornhurst Ave, Cleveland, OH

                                  Strauch            Mrs Dorothy K Strauch, wife, 39 Peralta Ave, Los Gatos, CA

                                  Baily                Mr George A Baily, Mr George A Baily, father, Oxford, NE

                                  Miller               Mrs Margie Miller, 611 E. Otoa, Cleveland, OK

PORTYRATA, HENRY F., First Lieutenant, # 0-742522, USAAF

 

Henry F. Portyrata was born 31 March 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Henry Portyrata (1897-    ) and Frances (Koly) Portyrata (1897-    ). His parents were born in Poland. Siblings included Helen Ann (Portyrata) Ladenburg (1924-001) and Raymond Portyrata (1927-    ). In 1930 his father worked as a truck driver and in 1940, a stock clerk. In 1935 the family lived at 43 Hyat, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island.

 

He enlisted in the USAAF on 25 November 1940 at Hillsgrove Army Air Field, Rhode Island. He completed flight school and advanced flight school, and was rated on the four-engine B-24. On 24 June 1944, a B-24J, # 42-73324, of the 374th Bomb Squadron, departed Chengkung, China, on a mission to bomb Hankow, China. The aircraft was missing; reason unknown. He is remembered on the Manila American Cemetery, Fort William McKinley, Philippines.

 

His brother, Raymond E. Portyrata, enlisted at Fort McLellan, Alabama, on 25 January 1946 with two years of college.