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name
WAUNEKA, Milton - Date of
birth
19 September 1915 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Chrystal, San Juan County, New Mexico -
Hometown
McKinley County, New Mexico -
Ethnicity
Native American
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38168863 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
401st Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
3 November 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Joe Wauneka (father)
Nabah Wauneka (mother)
Elanore Wauneka (sister)
Frances Wauneka (sister)
Alfred Wauneka (brother)
Mae P. (Kokie) Wauneka (wife)
Louise A. Wauneka (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39802 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombardment
MACR: 1153
More information
S/Sgt Milton Wauneka was a member of the Navajo tribe. He was married to Mae Pearl Kokie on 17 February 1935 and was a truck driver for the Navajo service warehouse.He inducted in the Air Corps on 9 October 1942 at Fort Bliss. He trained at Kearns, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada, AAB Ephrata, Wash.; Scott Field, Illinois; and Geiger Field, Wash.
The plane was last seen behind de formation with engine #2 on fire at 5350N – 0658E and probably crashed into the north sea. Five parachutes were observed. There were 3 survivors, James E. Peacock, Ernest P. Colvin and James X. Mcilwain who were saved by an German boot and taken POW. Frank J. Beauregard bailed out but drowned and washed ashore. Kenneth B. Rutledge, Albert E. Mahe, Raymond R. Rodenbaugh and Robert S. Balsey are on the walls of the Missing at Cambridge. Thomas E. Merit and Milton Wauneka on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.com, www.91stbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - New Mexico, WWII Record / 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - New Mexico, WWII Record