Sergeant Nick John Mesa – Service # 6576107

Nick John Mesa was born 7 May 1920 and was from Santa Barbara, California. He was the adopted son of Mrs. Esperanto Garcia.

Nick entered the service on 5 Nov 1941 before Pearl Harbor bombing which occurred on 7 Dec 1941, per the US Veterans Gravesites record.

Nick served in the Headquarters Squadron, XI Bomber Command as an aerial photographer. In a newspaper dated 18 Aug 1943, states his official designation was Combat Photo Group, 11th Air Force. They called themselves Shutterbugs and their insignia is the SNAFU bird, a little fellow with a big head and an aerial camera. The brave men had just completed a mission they thought was about their 30th combat mission.

Per the Headquarters Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew report, page 6, dated 16 Apr 1944, Nick was on a bombing mission with the 6th Air Force, 28th group, 21st squadron. They departed Attu Island, Alaska with a destination to Paramushiru Island. The last known location of the aircraft was east of Paramushiru Straits at 12:12 on 11 Aug 1943. Aircraft was believed to be lost due to enemy aircraft. When last seen in flight, the plane was flying east at 12,000 feet and 2 enemy fighters were closing in on it. The aircraft was a B24, #42-0129. There was a crew of 10 men on board. Page 6 of this report gives Nick’s full name and matches his serial number 6576107.

On the same report above, page 3, it lists contact person as Mrs. Ilona B. Mesa, listed as mother/wife. Some newspaper articles do the same, but one article states this is his wife with their young son. She was living at 217 South Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, California. In addition to his wife, he was survived by a 14-month old son, John A Mesa, whom he had never seen. His son John later served during the Vietnam War.

He earned the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Note – there are multiple records showing varying birth/death dates (see notes below). This story is based on the assumption that Nick’s actual death was the date he went missing on 11 Aug 1943, being officially declared dead later on 12 Jan 1946. Based on being 23 years old at the time of his death, the assumption for his birth date is 7 May 1920.

7 May 1920 -11 Aug 1943

- The memorial stone in Arlington National Cemetery is engraved with 7 May 1920 – 11 Aug 1943. (Section MH, Site 190)

- US Veterans Gravesite records, 7 May 1920-11 Aug 1943, entered the service 5 Nov 1941, buried at Arlington

- Headquarters Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew report, dated 16 Apr 1944, indicates missing as of 11 Aug 1943, matching service #6576107.

- The Daily News newspaper from Los Angeles published 4 Sep 1943 confirms his death.

7 May 1921 – 12 Jan 1946

- The American Battle Monuments index record, Nick died 12 Jan 1946 (birth date unknown). He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial. Service #6576107 FAG has pic of memorial, but does not show Mesa listed on the stone

- A memorial stone in Riverside National Cemetery is engraved with 7 May 1921 – 12 Jan 1946 (Plot MA-0-32) – SS claims index matches these dates SSN 563280817

- HonorStates.org death 12 Jan 1946, no birth date. Service #6576107. “During his service….was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on 12 Jan 1946.” Memorialized at the Courts of the Missing, Court 7 at Honolulu Memorial.

Sergeant Nick John Mesa, we thank you for your dedication, service and sacrifice for our country. You are not forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see Stories of fallen WWII heroes | Stories Behind the Stars). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you find missing information or corrections that need made, please contact me at wolfmaniaus56@gmail.com.

Sources –

Nick J Mesa in American Battle Monuments Commission - Fold3

Page 78 WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List - Fold3

Page 3 Missing Air Crew Reports, WWII - Fold3 (lists full name, wife/address)

Page 6 Missing Air Crew Reports, WWII - Fold3

Nick 2.jpg - Fold3 (photo)

Nick 5.jpg - Fold3 (newspaper article clipping, unknown date/paper)

SGT Nick J Mesa (unknown-1946) - Find A Grave Memorial (Honolulu Memorial)

SGT Nick J Mesa (1921-1946) - Find A Grave Memorial (Riverside National Cemetery)

SGT Nick J. Mesa (1920-1943) - Find A Grave Memorial (Arlington Cemetery)

04 Sep 1943, 5 - Daily News at Newspapers.com

18 Aug 1943, 3 - St. Albans Daily Messenger at Newspapers.com

27 Aug 1943, 3 - Santa Maria Times at Newspapers.com

U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 - Ancestry.com

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Ancestry.com

Nick J Mesa : Sergeant from California, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

26 Dec 1966, Page 3 - Nevada State Journal at Newspapers.com (article on son)