WWII

Staff Sergeant Gerald R. Marine Killed in Action, 1943

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Gerald R. Marine was born 21 February 1923. His parents are Berlin H. & Bessie (Barger) Marine, of near Marysville, Ohio. Prior to enlisting, Gerald R. Marine was employed at Standard Oil on S. State St., Marion, Ohio. He was married to Loree Marine. Gerald had a twin brother, Harold E., who also served during World War Two.

Gerald R. Marine enlisted on 17 March 1943, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He went on to graduate as a gunner/engineer from Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was assigned to a B-24 crew in England. He served as waist gunner with the 566th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group. His aircraft was B-24 #42-95029.

Staff Sergeant Gerald R. Marine was listed as Missing in Action since 7 July 1943. He was later returned and buried in the Hopewell Cemetery, Magnetic Springs, Union County, Ohio.

Crew Members of B-24 #42-95029:
Lt. Ralph S. Baney, Pilot
Lt. Richard A. Borling, Navigator
Lt. William A. Carter, Co-Pilot
SSgt. Paul D. Early, Ball Turret Gunner
Lt. Henry C. Gulmi, Bombardier
SSgt. Gerald R. Marine, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Jerry L. Maruca, Tail Gunner
Tech. Sgt. Walter J. Quinn, Top Turret Gunner
Tech. Sgt. Abe J. Robichaux, Radio Operator
SSgt. John F. Solberg, Waist Gunner

PFC Audley L. Fox Killed in Auto Accident While Home on Leave, 1945

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Audley L. Fox was born on August 1, 1920, in Hillman, Michigan. His parents are Paul C. & Margaret (Stoddard) Fox of Hillman, Michigan. Prior to enlistment Audley L. Fox was employed as a doorman. He enlisted on 25 October 1945.

The Marion Star reported that he had been married to Bessie, and had returned to Marion, Ohio, over Easter of 1944, to visit her. At that time, he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Later PFC Audley L. Fox was assigned to Wright Field near Dayton, Ohio. PFC Fox was assigned to Squadron 1 and served as a bulldozer operator. On 29 January 1946, while home on leave, Audley and Floyd Argetsinger, of Toledo were killed in a truck vs train accident. The accident took place near Mansfield, Ohio. Audley L. Fox left behind his wife and a seven-year-old daughter, who were residing in Marion, Ohio.

Audley L. Fox is buried in the Marion Cemetery.

Lt. Perry W. Wolfe Missing in Action After B-24 Shot Down Over Germany, 1945

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Perry Wallace Wolfe was born on 8 January 1921, in Coshocton, Ohio. His parents are Robert G. & Margaret (Roberts) Wolfe. Perry graduated from Mt. Gilead High School, where he was on the football and basketball teams for four years. He also was a member of the Hi-Y Club for four years. After high school, Perry was employed with C. C. Yagger, in Marion, Ohio. Perry may have been a salesman, as listed in his military records.

Perry W. Wolfe enlisted into the army on 16 May 1942, at Patterson Field Fairfield, Ohio. Perry attained the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was a copilot of a B-24J Liberator. 22nd Lt. Wolfe was assigned to the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, in Tibenham, England.

On 3 March 1945, the aircraft B-24J #44-48844 that Lt. Wolfe and crew were aboard was hit by flak. The aircraft was seen as it went down over Rothensee Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Witnesses stated that the aircraft received a direct hit on the bomb run and the right fin and rudder fell off. They went into a spin and two chutes were observed. Of the ten crewmen, four survived the crash and became Prisoners of War. The crew and dispositions are listed at the end of this article. Sadly, Lt. Perry W. Wolfe was among those killed or missing in action.

Perry W. Wolfe is remembered for his service and sacrifice on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Perry W. Wolfe’s name does not appear on any memorials in Marion, Ohio.

Crew Members of B-24J #44-48844:
Pilot 1st. Lt. Richard A. Winters of New Jersey, Killed in Action

Copilot 2nd. Lt. Perry W. Wolfe of Ohio, Missing in Action

Navigator 2nd. Lt. Ira J. Castles Prisoner of War

Bombardier 2nd. Lt. Matthew S Bahelka Prisoner of War

NTG 2Lt Charles P. Flanzer Killed in Action

Radio Operator SSgt. Melvin E. Schmidt Prisoner of War

Engineer Tech. Sgt. John F. Cicchetti Missing in Action

Waist Gunner SSgt. Karl G. Goff Prisoner of War

Waist Gunner Sgt. Vincent J. Rispoli Killed in Action

Tail Gunner Sgt. Francis Houston of Pennsylvania, Killed in Action

Edgar D. Custer, Green Camp Volunteer Fire Department – Line of Duty Death, 1974

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Edgar D. Custer was born 18 January 1930, in Marion Ohio. His parents are Fred D. & Bernice Custer of Marion. Edgar had served 10 years in the Ohio National Guard and was a veteran of World War Two. In July of 1945, Edgar was serving in Company M, Fourth Infantry, Ohio State Guard, Marion, Ohio. Edgar was married to Norma M. (Rasey). They had one daughter together. Edgar worked full-time with the Tecumseh Products Company, Marion Division.

Edgar D. Custer was serving as a Captain with the Green Camp Volunteer Fire Department. He had also served as Green Camp’s Village Marshal in the past.

On the evening of 2 February 1974, Green Camp Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire on Prospect-Centerville Road, west of Green Camp. Captain Custer had entered the smoke-filled house with his air pack on to investigate the fire. Capt. Custer had exited the house, still wearing his air pack. After he had been outside for about 20 minutes, he collapsed in the yard. Marion Township Fire Department’s squad responded to the downed Captain and transported him the Marion General Hospital. They were unable to revive Custer. It was later determined that Edgar D. Custer had died of a heart attack.

At the funeral the pallbearers were Green Camps Fire Chief, Bing Dickason along with department members: Robert Richey, Marvin Ralph, Donald Cleland, Frank Stover and Dwight Bond.
Edgar D. Custer is buried in the Green Camp Cemetery, Green Camp, Marion County, Ohio.
Edgar D. Custer is remembered on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial located in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Note: Edgar D. Custer’s name is mistakenly engraved on the memorial as “Edward Custer.”

SSgt. Curtis Borror Missing in Action After Crew Bails Out of B24, 1944

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James Curtis Borror, Jr. was born on 17 August 1920, in Pickaway County, Ohio. His parents are James Curtis, Sr. & Hazel (Ebert) Borror of Morral, Ohio. Prior to entering service, he was employed by Curtiss Wright in Franklin County, Ohio, where he worked in the machine shop.

Curtis Borror enlisted on 24 October 1942, at Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio. He served in the Army Air Force. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant while with the 72nd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy. He served as a gunner on a B-24 Bomber, B-24D #42-41151.

While on a bombing mission to Truk Island, the aircraft SSgt Borror was aboard was attacked by Japanese fighter planes defending the island. B-24D #42-41151 was struck in the engine. The crew eventually had to bail out and the pilot had to ditch the plane at sea. There were eleven men aboard the bomber that day when it took off from Tong Island, none of the eleven were recovered. His date of death is listed as 3 June 1944.

SSgt. Borror was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart among campaign ribbons.
SSgt. Curtis Borror and his crew mates are listed on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

SSgt. Curtis Borror having lived in Marion County, but enlisting from another county, is not listed on any Honor Rolls in Marion County.

Airmen who perished on B-24D #42-41151:
1st Lt. Angelakos, Peter W. Pilot, South Carolina
S/Sgt. Borror, Curtis, Jr. Gunner, Ohio
1st Lt. Edwards, Robert L. Bombardier, New York
1st Lt. Furman, Irvin B. Navigator, Ohio
S/Sgt. Handley, Robert W. Gunner, Texas
1st Lt. Lewis, Walter F. Co-Pilot, Massachusetts
S/Sgt. McCallister, Emmanuel A. Gunner, West Virginia
T/Sgt. Ray, Marion Radio Operator, Missouri
T/Sgt. Rich, Carl E. Engineer, Illinois
T/Sgt. Roberts, Malcolm D, Jr. Gunner, New York
Corp. Romine, Gene G. Photographer, Oregon