43-48869         MACR 14362

 

On 5 May 1945 a C-47B, # 43-48869, assigned to 14th Air Force, 1340th AAF Base Unit, Kunming, China, departed the airfield at Chihkiang, China, on a cargo mission to Kunming, China. The crew was:

                                 Pilot                             2ndLt Benjamin Raymond Jablonski               0-812599

                                 Co-Pilot                       2ndLt William Howell Davis                           0-2067666

                                 Radio Operator            Pvt Louis J. Merenda                                       13175064

The next-of-kin listed were:

                                 Jablonski          Mary T. Jablonski, W, 3629 E. 57th St., Cleveland, OH

                                 Merenda          Mary C. Merenda, M, 5553 N. 5th St., Philadelphia, PA

                                 Davis               Sarah E. Davis, M, 213 E. End Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

 

JABLONSKI, BENJAMIN RAYMOND, Second Lieutenant, # 0-812599, USAAF

 

Benjamin R. Jablonski was born on 27 November 1917 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, to William (Waclaw) Jablonski (1879-1959) (Poland – Russia) and Viola (Valeria Gruzewski) Jablonski (1889-    ). Siblings were Eleanor Stephanie (Jablonski) Bakalar nee Jeske (1906-1999) (Poland – Russia), Sylvester Michael Jablonski (1910-1965), and Felix N. Jablonski (1916-1974). He was married to Mary T. Jablonski, 3629 E. 57th St., Cleveland, Ohio.

 

He enlisted in the USAAF in Cleveland, Ohio, on 24 June 1941. After enlisting in the USAAF, he completed flight instruction through advanced school, was multi-engine rated, and were assigned to fly the Douglas C-47 Skytrain. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas through India to China. On 5 May 1945 a C-47B, # 43-48869, assigned to 14th Air Force, 1340th AAF Base Unit, Kunming, China, departed the airfield at Chihkiang, China, on a cargo mission to Kunming, China. The C-47 crashed and the crew was killed. After recovery from China, his remains were buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.

 

His brother, Felix N. Jablonski, born 21 March 1916, served in the U.S. Navy from 9 January 1942 to 8 November 1945. He died 29 August 1974 and is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook Park, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.

DAVIS, WILLIAM HOWELL, JR., Second Lieutenant, # 0-2067666, USAAF

 

William H. Davis Jr. was born on 14 May 1923 in Pennsylvania to William Howell Davis (1894-1960) (PA) and Sarah Elizabeth (Teddy) Davis (1896-1968) (PA) (married 4 November 1914, Irwin, Westmoreland Co., PA). Siblings were Florence Amy (Davis) McCombs (1918-1989) and Mary Lou Davis (1933-    ).

 

He registered for the WWII draft in 1942, employed by E. Keller, resided at 49 Highland Ave., Uniontown, Fayette, PA, and described himself as 5’7”, 140 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes.