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Killed In Action, WWII, Bernard R. Yglesias

KILLED IN ACTION, WWII
BERNARD R. YGLESIAS

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Bernard (Ben) R. Yglesias (1919 - 1945) served in World War II with the 20th Army Air Force, 314th Bombardment Wing, 19th Bomb Group, 28th Squad.

In a letter dated May 25, 1944 he states "I am a one week old soldier in the Army Air Force, unassigned, stationed at Sheppard Field, Texas." After basic training he wanted to apply to Pilot Training. However, by August, 1944 he was training to be gunner on a B-29 plane. Bernard was on the island of Guam in April, 1945. It appears his first bombing mission was April 12, 1945. His handwritten diary ends with notes of his 11th mission. Apparently he lost his life on the 12th mission and was listed as Missing In Action May 29, 1945 at the age of 26. Later he was declared Killed In Action. He was married to Doris Keen and they had four small children.

DO YOU KNOW THESE MEN?

I have the Missing Crew Report and the other 10 men on the plane were: Gerard J. O'Leary, Giles W. Bowers, Jr., Donald Leintz, Leonard C. Lawicki, George F. Maddox, Jr., George M. Hogan, Jack C. Kepner, Edward J. Koblinski, Angus E. McConnell and Joseph A. Doole.

I would enjoy hearing from any family members or friends of these men. So far, I have corresponded with a friend of Jack Kepner and the sister and nephew of George Hogan! I have corresponded with a cousin of Leonard Lawicki who was from Chicago!
Thanks to the sister of George Hogan, I learned the name of the B-29 plane was "City of Atlanta".

Taken from a letter from the Headquarters
314th Bombarment Wing
Office of the Commanding General,
San Francisco, CA.
July 13, 1945

My Dear Mrs. Yglesias:

Through the inadequate words of this letter, I wish to express to you my sincere condolence in the recent disappearance of your husband, Sgt. Bernard R. Yglesias...

I realize how vitally important every scrap of news concerning your husband's loss must be to you. Thererfore, I wish to pass on to you all that we know in this Headquarters. On the twenty-ninth of May 1945, we sent a large formation of Superfortresses to bomb the city of Yokohama, Japan. Your husband's plane was evidently hit by flak and so damaged that it had to go down at sea. Other planes in the formation circled the area for forty-five minutes, but there were no survivors sighted. I sincerely wish that it were possible for me to give you more information and more encouragment, but this is all that we know at this time.

If, in the end, we learn that it has cost us your husband's life to win back freedom and peace, through our tears, let us take pride in his noble sacrifice,....

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Power
Brigadier General, USA

...THE REMAINS OF YOUR HUSBAND ARE NOT RECOVERABLE....

Taken from a letter from the Department of the Army
Office of the Quartermaster General
March 17, 1948

Mrs. Doris Yglesias:

More than two years have elapsed since the cessation of hostilities of WWII which cost the life of your husband, the late Sgt. Bernard R. Yglesias.

Full consideration has been given to all available information pertaining to your husband since he was listed as killed in action while returning from a bombing mission to Yokohama, Japan on 29, May, 1945.

Information obtained from a statement accomplished by two occupants of another plane on this same mission discloses that your husband's plane was struck by flak over the target and one engine was feathered. ... The pilot of the plane reported by blinker code that his controls were shut out, that he had two wounded gunners aboard, and that his radio equipment was inoperative. .... Approximately 150 miles north of Iwo Jima the planes broke into the clear. About ten minutes later your hsuband's plane nosed down quite violently and plunged straight toward the sea......After circling this position and sending out radio reports for forty-five minutes the other aircraft left and returned to their home base....It was concluded that your husband and the other ten members of his crew were lost with the plane.

After a detailed study of the negative records of searching operations and pertinent facts regarding this case, the Department of The Army has been forced to conclude that the remains of your husband are not recoverable....express condolence to you who gave your loved one under circumstances so difficult that there is no grave at which to pay homage. May the knowledge of your husband's honorable service to his country be a source of sustaining comfort to you.

Sincerely yours,
Geo. A. Horkan
Major General,
Chief Memorial Division

Bernard Yglesias's name is on the Wall of the Missing in Honolulu - see picture below. He received the Air Medal and Purple Heart.


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IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

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The above pictures were taken by Bernard's daughter on a trip to Honolulu in 1998, 53 years after her father was missing in action.



This page created May, 1998 Counter addded July 25, 1998.

SITES WITH BOOKS/STORIES ABOUT B-29’s

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