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name
ACOSTA, Argent Joseph Jr - Date of
birth
8 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-763018 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
383rd Fighter Squadron,
364th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 August 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, near Wobbenbüll, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 10 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Argent J. Acosta (father)
Josephine M. (Pesikey) Acosta (mother)
Gloria Acosta (sister)
Rita A. (Cantrelle) Acosta (wife)
Argent J. Acosta III (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-13936 -
Data
Type: P-51D
Nickname: Carolina Moon
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 8319
More information
2nd Lt Argent J. Acosta Jr. was a plumber before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 2 September 1942.Statement of Capt Bruce B. Wilson:
"I was leading Yellow flight, in which Lt Acosta was flying Yellow four. We went on instruments shortly after making landfall. At approximately 1210 my element leader yelled, 'look out.' I looked up from my instruments and saw a squadron of P-51s diving in to us. It was necessary to take violent evasion action to prevent a midair crash. I dropped the nose, losing my element and wingman."
Statement of 1st Lt Thomas H. Hall Jr.:
"I was flying yellow three position when I saw we were going into an overcast. I brought my element up tight. My wingman, Lt Acosta, was flying good tight formation. Suddenly I saw a flight of P-51s diving through us and I yelled to break. My flight leader dived, but I was unable to do so as my element would have had a midair collision, so I broke up and to the right. I realized I was on my own, so started flying instruments. I called Lt Acosta but failed to contact him from then on."
According to documents in the Missing Air Crew Report, the plane of Lt Acosta was shot down by a fighter.
Lt Acosta was initially buried at the cemetery of Wobbenbüll, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Justelia Alford, Terry Hirsch www.cieldegloire.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, Various Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWI Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, Michel Beckers/364th Fighter Group, Justelia Alford, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-A, Williams Field, Arizona