Lair Maurice C.

Monuments

The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan

Name:

Maurice C. Lair

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-413768

Unit:

374th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1943-08-21

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Manila American Cemetery, Taguig, Philippines

Plot:

Walls of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Maurice C. Lair entered the military service in Illinois. He reside in Cook County, Illinois prior to the war. Maurice served as a Captain and Bombardier on B-24D #41-24243, 374th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24D #41-24243 took off, with other B-24's, on a bombing mission over Hankow, China. Over the target they were hit by Japanese ground anti-aircraft fire and also attacked by Japanese planes and shot down near Hankow. The entire crew of 9 were lost on this mission. Maurice was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. Also, his name is 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