Anthony (NMI) Laskow

Enlisted as a Private in the Army Air Corps on 27 October 1942 at New York City, New York (ASN: 12176020).

Graduated with Class 44-B (Flight #3) at Freeman Army Air Field near Seymour, Indiana; and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Army Air Forces (ASN: O-822028).

Class 44-B Graduation Exercises were held in Hangar No. 5 at 1100 hours on 8 February 1944. Presentations of “Wings” were made by Major William B. Poe, and the oath of office was administered by Major Albert E. Hughes.

Selected for Boeing B-29 aircraft transition and assigned to the 326th AAF Base Unit Combat Crew Training Squadron, 323rd Combat Crew Training Wing (VHB) at MacDill Field near Tampa, Florida.

On 24 April 1945, he flew in the right seat as the Co-Pilot aboard a B-29A-10-BN Superfortress, serial #42-93922. It was on a combat crew training mission in the Gulf of Mexico. However, it crashed due to mechanical failure approximately 100 miles southwest of Key West, Florida.

The Bombardier (Matthews) and Navigator (Jiler) were rescued the next day when they were spotted by the U.S. Navy Blimp K-54, which directed rescue ships to the crash site at a geographic location of 23-29N 83-01W. The body of the Radio Operator (Phillips) was also recovered. All other crew members were initially declared MIA.

Anthony Laskow