Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Obituaries

Obituaries Please use this forum to post obituary listings and death notices.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10th August 2020, 20:57
DavidIsby DavidIsby is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,278
DavidIsby will become famous soon enoughDavidIsby will become famous soon enough
Alexander Wasilenko, USN, VP-25 PBM gunner

https://www.tributearchive.com/obitu...nder-Wasilenko
https://auburnpub.com/obits/death_no...99114fff7.html
https://www.facebook.com/ww2veterans...0148609198807/




WWII Veterans History Project
AitdhteSiugumplSasamoclt mn7 aasorent 3:t50 rPndM ·
DECORATED WWII VETERAN COMBAT NAVAL AVIATOR DIES AT 95
It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Alexander Wasilenko, a decorated naval aviator who served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was 95.
Wasilenko served as an aerial gunner aboard a Martin PBM Mariner aircraft attached to Patrol Squadron 25 (VP-25). After being drafted into the service in 1943, he underwent six weeks of training at Sampson Naval Training Station in New York before flying to Hawaii in September of 1944 to undergo operational training. Two months later, his squadron was ready for combat and departed Hawaii for Leyte, the Philippines, on November 15, 1944.
Shortly after arriving in the Philippines, they began their first patrols against the enemy. In the Pacific, PBM Mariners were used for forward patrol and rescue operations and were also used as bombers. During these missions, Alexander Wasilenko manned a 50-caliber machine gun in a turret on the tail of the aircraft. Because the PBM was well suited for ocean rescue missions, he and his crew played a vital role in recovering several downed pilots and crews in heroic open-sea landings. They also had the important job of searching for Japanese submarines, which threatened the American naval fleet.
The planes in Wasilenko’s unit were painted entirely black, earning them the nickname “The Black Cats”. Because the aircraft were used in nighttime attacks and reconnaissance missions, black paint was beneficial to avoid being spotted by the Japanese. Some of the most harrowing experiences that Wasilenko endured throughout the war occurred during these night missions, and he remembers those frightful nights quite vividly.
On some occasions, Japanese aircraft even tried to follow his plane back to base and relay the coordinates to Japanese headquarters. During his time in the Pacific Theater, he witnessed several kamikaze attacks, watching helplessly as the Japanese planes dove into American ships without hesitation. It was almost a daily routine to have the enemy strafe and bomb the harbor and cause widespread panic and destruction throughout their home base.
For his courageous actions and meritorious service during WWII, Alexander Wasilenko was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as three Air Medals. We had the distinct privilege to interview this brave American hero in September 2019, capturing and preserving his incredible stories for future generations.
"Giving the Past a Future, One Story at a Time."
WWII Veterans History Project
Visit us online: WW2VeteransHistoryProject.or
__________________
author of THE DECISIVE DUEL: SPITFIRE VS 109, published by Little Brown. Visit its website at: http://Spitfirevs109.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15th September 2020, 19:29
Teresa Maria's Avatar
Teresa Maria Teresa Maria is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,178
Teresa Maria is on a distinguished road
Re: Alexander Wasilenko, USN, VP-25 PBM gunner

May he rest in peace.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Luftwaffe losses in the east 20-30.01.1945 AreKal Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 36 20th April 2021 15:28
The Guy who shot my father down Tom8160 Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 14 25th February 2016 02:05
Zerstorer Staffel Er. Kdo 25 Peter Kassak Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 7 8th April 2014 22:37
Pilots Missing Over Korea 1952/53 Chris Goss Post-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation 19 10th August 2010 04:02
Air and Ground Crew CV-38 markjsheppard Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East 2 23rd February 2010 10:04


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 08:17.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net