On December 30, 1943, Sgt. Constantin was a gunner on the B-24D "Pretty Prairie Special", lead bomber on a mission of the 31st Bombardment Squadron. Over New Ireland, his B-24 was attacked by Japanese fighters and crashed 10 miles from New Ireland. Everyone bailed out and 9 survivors managed to swim to the beach of New Ireland, where local natives hid them. After evading Japanese forces for 15 days, the crew were captured and sent to a POW camp in Rabaul, on the island of New Britain in New Guinea. On March 5, 1944 he was executed along with 20 other men.

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Edward T Constantin

Name: Edward T Constantin

Birth Year: 1916

Race: White, citizen (White)

Nativity State or Country: New York

State of Residence: North Carolina

County or City: Haywood

Enlistment Date: 8 Jul 1942

Enlistment State: South Carolina

Enlistment City: Fort Jackson Columbia

Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Grade: Private

Grade Code: Private

Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law

Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of

Source: Civil Life

Education: 4 years of college

Civil Occupation: Salesmen and sales agents, except to consumers

Marital Status: Married

Height: 70

Weight: 171

B-24D-20-CO "Pretty Prairie Special" Serial Number 41-24186

USAAF
13th AF
5th BG
HQ


Pilot Colonel Marion D. Unruh, O-298478 5th BG C.O. (POW, survived) Pretty Prairie, Kansas
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Thomas B. Fessenger, O-663706 (MIA / POW, died July 15, 1944, BNR) CA
Navigator Major Frederick K. Koebig, O-375573 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Bombardier 1st Lt Anthony Kuhn, O-738645 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Engineer S/Sgt Lawson Stewart, 3 4425408 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Asst Engineer Cpl Vincent Wasilevski, 1303815 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Radio S/Sgt Roy E. Bixler, 35005257 (MIA / KIA) OH
Asst Radio Sgt John J. Gillis Jr., 20610868 5th BG, HQ (MIA / POW died August 2, 1944) IL
Gunner S/Sgt Edward T. Constantin, 14123662 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Gunner S/Sgt Romulus F. Mull, 14187785 (MIA / POW executed March 5, 1944)
Photographer S/Sgt Albert Schaffran, 13039217 (MIA / KIA) PA
Ditched December 30, 1943