1st Lt. James L. Easter
USAAF, 5th Air Force, 43rd Bomb Group (43rd BG), 65th Bomb Squadron (65th BS)
Killed In Action (KIA) piloting B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430

Background
James L. Easter was born July 24, 1918 to parents Edgar Easter and Alta Easter in Minnesota. He attended high school and college. On September 2, 1941 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 15070006. After training, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-789379 then sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men" as a navigator flying bombing missions from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On February 28, 1942 Easter and his crew were photographed with B-17F "Georgia Peach" 41-24454.

Mission History
On March 3, 1943 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloting B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 on a bombing mission against the Japanese convoy in the Bismarck Sea off Umboi Island (Rooke).

Pilot  1st Lt. James L. Easter, O-789379 (DOW)
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Russell S. Emerick, O-793089
Navigator  1st Lt. Philip L. Bek, O-724280
Bombardier  2nd Lt. Jack K. Wisener, O-662327
Engineer  SSgt Harold J. Perdue, 06996604 (WIA)
Radio  Sgt Boyd H. Parker, 19004786 (WIA)
Ball Turret  Pvt. James C. Phillips, 18079255
Waist Gunner  Sgt Louis Molin, 15070228 (WIA)
Waist Gunner  Cpl Charles H. Stenglein, 12025165
Tail Gunner  Sgt. Melvin Cohen, 12031964

This B-17 was leading the second element with B-17 pilot 1st Lt. Niece and B-17 pilot 1st Lt. Woodard. Over the target, intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars from the 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment). A pair of fighters made a single firing pass that damaged the B-17 from nose to tail and wounded four of the crew: 1st Lt. James L. Easter, SSgt Harold J. Perdue, Sgt Boyd H. Parker and Sgt Louis Molin. Despite his wounds, pilot Easter put the bomber into a dive to evade the fighters. Afterwards, co-pilot 2nd Lt. Russel S. Emerick took the controls and to return to Port Moresby but but due to clouds landed at Doboudra Airfield. While landing one of the main wheels went flat from damage and once the plane rolled to a stop the wounded crew were evacuated and the damaged B-17 was towed off the runway with many bullet holes. Wounded Easter never regained consciousness and later died of his wounds.

Memorials
Easter was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On March 10, 1948 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 12, site 4359.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James L. Easter
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Russell S. Emerick
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Philip L. Bek
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack K. Wisener
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold J. Perdue
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Boyd H. Parker
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Louis Molin
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles H. Stenglein
The Press (Cleveland, OH), June 29, 1943
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), March 10, 1948
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) Obituary Edgar Easter, Sept. 3, 1970
Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - James L. Easter (grave photos)
FindAGrave - James Lake Easter (obituary, photo, grave photo) date of death March 2, 1943 [sic March 3, 1943]
Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) pages 145-146 (March 3, 1942), 314-315 (Easter KIA March 3, 1943), 390 (index James L. Easter)
Kens Men - Access the Database - 177 / 19 / Easter James L date of death listed March 2, 1943 [sic March 3, 1943]
Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis

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