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Butterfield Royal Duane

Name:
Royal Duane Butterfield
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-728565
Unit:
373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-06-24
State:
Nebraska
Cemetery:
Manila American Cemetery, Taguig, Philippines
Plot:
Walls of the Missing
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments:

Royal Duane Butterfield was born on April 22, 1918 in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska. Based on his enlistment record, he resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 26, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Sales clerk and also as Single, without dependents. Royal served as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on B-24J "Maxwell House II" #43-73245, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #43-73245 took off on November 27, 1943 from Pandaveswar Airfield, India on a bombing mission over Insein, Myanmar (Burma). They were attacked by Japanese fighter planes which damaged their engines and the B-24 crashed approximately 150 miles northwest of Rangoon, Myanmar (Burma). At least eight parachutes were seen during bailout.

Those who were able to bail out included 2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, Sgt McClung, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Rich, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples.

Before reaching the ground, five of the crew were reportedly either shot while parachuting down or killed once they hit the ground. They included Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples.

2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt McClung, and 2nd Lt Rich were all captured and taken to the Rangoon POW camp in Myanmar (Burma). Royal "Died While A POW" of Beri-Beri at the Rangoon POW camp during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Historical Note: The Japanese Army "did not" report that they had a prison camp at Rangoon to the U.S. Military until after the war.

2Lt Butterfield was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov