Background
Charlie John Sciara was born August 9, 1923 to parents Frank Sciara and Alice Firmbach Sciara in Brooklyn, New York. He attended James Madison High School then enrolled in New York University (NYU) in the college of engineering and was also employed at at Duff Stores. During 1942 lived at 1592 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York. On June 30, 1942 he registered for the U.S. draft.
Wartime History
On December 9, 1942 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reseve (USMCR) with serial number 503505. He was trained as an aviation radioman and by May 1943 graduated from aerial gunner school at Marine Corps Air Station San Diego. Sciara was sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) and participated in two tours of duty before his loss.
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Mission History
On January 14, 1944 took off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia as gunner aboard SBD-5 Dauntless 35971 piloted by 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey on a dive bombing mission led by Major McDaniel against
Japanese shipping off Rabaul. The formation included 36 SBD Dauntless from VMSB-236 and VMSB-341, 18 TBF Avengers escorted by 73 fighters. This was the first full scale attack by land based light bombers against Japanese shipping in the vicinity of Rabaul.
The strike was credited with 9 direct hits on 7 transports and a direct hit on a possible light cruiser and possible destroyer. Also, 20 near misses that likely caused damage. It was estimated that 5 of the 7 transports were sunk. The U.S. planes encountered intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers and were intercepted by successive waves of fighters including what was claimed to be Zekes, Hamps and Tonys.
Approaching the target area, this SBD had the tail shot off by anti-aircraft
fire. When the tail broke off, this SBD was last seen in
a flat spin over Saint Georges Channel (St. Georges Channel) northeast of Rabaul. When this aircraft failed to return, this aircraft was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Also lost was SBD-5 Dauntless 36230 (pilot MIA / gunner POW, died).
Fates of the Crew
After the tail broke off, gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara managed to bail out of the damaged plane and landed safely. He was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and was transported to Rabaul then detained at Tunnel Hill POW Camp. On February 22, 1944 he died due to neglect, malaria or beri-beri and buried nearby. His remains were never recovered. Sciara remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Memorials
Sciara was officially declared dead on February 22, 1944 and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously and the Prisoner of War Medal. On October 16, 1945 a mass of requiem was held in his honor at St. Brendan's Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY. He are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Sciara also has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at section H.
Relatives
John Sciara (brother Charlie J. Sciara)
"My family was told, both were classified as MIA,
both died the day of the crash. After the war my parents received a
letter from the Marine Corps stating Sgt Charles Sciara did not die on
January 14, 1944. He somehow survived the crash and was taken prisoner by
the Japanese and died in an unknown prison camp. They say he might have
died February 22, 1944 from Malaria and beri-beri. He probably
was murdered by the Japanese. My family was very upset after the war and was not
sure what to believe. My brother was under age and my Mom had to sign
him in. He was 20 when he died. Mom said at least he died the way he
wanted. I was only 10 months old and never seen him alive. They and many others gave up their tomorrows for
our todays. I believe their plane lies somewhere in Rabaul's Harbor. Mother had a
poem she liked:
Satisfied
I'll never be "First Lady" Nor grace a magazine,
I never will be famous. Nor will I be a queen.
But I would never change my lot with any that I've seen
For you see - I am the mother of a United States Marine!"
References
U.S. Draft Registration Card - Charlie J. Sciara, June 30, 1942
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle "With Our Fighting Men" May 9, 1943 page 20
"Recent graduates of the bombardier and air gunners school at the Marine Corps Air Station San Diego, Cal., were Pvt James A. Graham and Pvt. Charles J. Sciara."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle October 15, 1945 page 7
"A solemn mass of requiem for Sgt. Charles J. Sciara, 20, who was killed in the Pacific area Jan. 14, 1944, while serving with a Marine Corps air unit, will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Brendan's R. C. Church, Avenue O and E. 12th St. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sciara of 1592 E. 12th St. Sergeant Sciara, a native of Brooklyn, was graduated from James Madison High School and was a student at New York University when he joined the marines in 1942. He went overseas in 1943 and was killed when his plane, a dive-bomber, was shot down. He was listed as missing for many months before the Navy Department gave up hope that he might be living. He was a member of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity at New York University. He is survived by two brothers, Frank and John, and a sister, Lillian."
USMC Casualty Card - Charlie J. Sciara
"History: 14 Jan 44 Missing in action over Cape Gazelle New Britain. Airmailgram for COMPORON 40, NCR#1662, to VCNO dated
1/29/44 rec'd 1/31/44. 15 Jan 45 Killed in action at Cape Gazelle, New Britain fd death fr OIC CasDiv Est SecNav Acc PL#490 dated 15 Jan 45 rec'd CasDiv 18 Jun 45. 015013"
NARA "Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Thirty Six War Diary January 1944" page 3
(Page 3) "14 January [1944]... Lt. Billy R. Ramsey of this squadron had his tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire while the flight was approaching the target area. When last seen Ramsey was in a flat spin over St. George's Channel, N. E. of Rabaul. With Ramsey was his gunner, Sgt. Charles J. Sciara, (503505), both USMCR [sic]. Shortly before Ramsey was shot down Lt. Tuck (VMSB-341) [SBD-5 Dauntless 36230] lost his tail and spun in. At first it was believed that Tuck had been involved in a mid-air collision. However no other plane in the flight was involved in any collision so far as it is possible to determine. It is believed that Tuck may have been hit by one of the belly tanks which the F6Fs dropped through the formation of SBDs. With Tuck was his gunner, Pfc P. E. Mc Cleaf."
NARA "Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 341 War Diary January 1944" pages 5
(Page 5)
"[14 January 1944] Another plane in the formation was seen to cut his plane's tail off, but the other plane was never identified [this aircraft, due to enemy action]. One other plane did not return from the strike [this aircraft]. A Dumbo made searches in the area with negative results. Lt. Tuck's plane was No. 27, BuNo. 36230 and his gunner was PFC Paul F. McCleaft, USMCR, Ser. No. 486913."
Director of Memorial Division, Office of the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army Lieutenant Waite (MCS), USN "Identification of unknowns" November 9, 1948
"In connection with the foregoing, this office has received an unofficial report (originating with the former Japanese Naval Commander at Rabaul at the time of capitulation and based on memoranda [sic memorandum] and the memory of the prison guards since the official records were destroyed in the bombings of [Rabaul] February, March and April 1944) indicating that Sgt. SCIARA probably survived the crash of his plane and was interned in one of the Rabaul POW camps where he died of and beri-beri on 24 February 1944 [sic February 22, 1944]. No such report has ever been received in the case case of Lt. Billy R. Ramsey."
NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File Charles J Sciara date of report January 14, 1944
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles John Sciara
FindAGrave - Sgt Charles John Sciara (photo, memorial marker photo) date of death January 14, 1944
Ancestry -
Charles John Sciara (photo)
Missing Marines -
Charles J. Sciara (photos, biography)
Daily Mail - Exclusive Missing WWII US Marines plane found 80 years after vanishing during daring divebombing mission against Japanese forces: Human remains are discovered alongside wreck in Papua New Guinea jungle by Josie Adnitt and Keith Griffith March 2, 2024 (photo gallery)
New York Post "Wreckage of WWII plane that vanished found in South Pacific after 80 years" March 2, 2024
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 521-522 (January 14, 1944)
Thanks to John Sciara for additional information
