SGT Arthur Rivera Estrada

Familial History

SGT Arthur Rivera Estrada was born 14 August 1921 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona to Eloisa Davila Rivera and Nicolas Ruiz “Nic” Estrada. He died 30 December 1944 near East Kirby Station, Lincolnshire, England. The family resided in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona prior to his enlistment.

Eloise Davila Rivera was born 7 February 1896 in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico to MA Marcelina Dolores Davila Escalante and Juan Rivera. She died 7 June 1977 in Phoenix. She was buried in the Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery located in Phoenix. The Memorial # was 83908093.

Nicolas Ruiz “Nic” Estrada was born 10 September 1896 in Magdalena de Kino, Magdalena de Kino Municipality, Sonora, Mexico to Dolores Ruiz and Manuel Estrada. He died 1 March 1946 at age 46 in Phoenix and was buried with Eloise. The Memorial # was 167783783. They were proud parents of 10 children comprised of 5 daughters and 5 sons.

Carlos was the eldest of the Estrada children. Tragically, he died of pneumonia the same year he was born in Ray, Pinal County, Arizona.

Mary Louise Estrada Daniels was born 7 October 1916 in Ray, Arizona and died 5 December 1996 in Maricopa County, Arizona. She entered matrimony on 15 February 1937 with Francisco “Frank” Vega Daniels in Maricopa County, Arizona. He was born 30 October 1916 in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona to Cayestana Zeferina Vega and Jose Daniels Sr. He died 2 October 1969 in Prescott and buried in the IOOF Cemetery located in Prescott. Their union produced 6 children with 4 daughters and 2 sons.

Ernest Rivera Estrada was born 1 September 1919 in Phoenix and died 6 September 1994. He was buried with his family and the Memorial # 223680774. His wife was not listed, and they had 4 children.

Arthur was the fourth born child in the family.

Virginia “Vicky” Estrada was born 2 January 1924 in Phoenix and died 1 July 2012 in Phoenix. She was interred with the family and the Memorial # 93490646.

Bonita Estrada was born 9 March 1925 in Maricopa County and died the same day. She was buried in the Cementerio Lindo, located in Phoenix and the Memorial # 148738324.

Aurora Rivera Estrada Pizzo was born 2 June 1926 in Phoenix and died 5 July 2001. She married Jack Frank Pizzo 5 November 1949 in Maricopa County, Arizona. She was interred next to her sisters, Elsie Mae and Vicky. Her Memorial # was 83908884.

Guillermo “Edward” “Milo” William Estrada was born 1 November 1931 in Arizona and died 9 July 2013 in Phoenix. He was buried with his family and the Memorial # 114350308.

Eloise May “Elsie” Estrada Sotomayor was born 12 February 1935 in Phoenix and died 2 December 2004. Elsie was laid to rest next to her sisters and the Memorial # 83908934. She married Benjamin A. Sotomayor, Jr. 20 January 1955 in Maricopa County, Arizona. The marriage ended in divorce December 1973 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

Ramona E. Austin was the youngest child, and the information was listed as Private.

Service History:

SGT Arthur Rivera Estrada registered for the draft 16 February 1942 in Phoenix. He was employed by John Jacobs Farms and his height was 5’6” and he weighed 134 pounds. His Mother, Eloise Estrada signed as next of kin for both the draft registration and his headstone request form.

He enlisted into the US Army 3 July 1942 in Phoenix, Arizona. His occupation was listed as a Farm Hand, he was single, and working in Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona.

He was assigned to the 327th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy. His specialty was as a Radio Operator, and his Service Number was 39847857. The 92nd Bomber Group was nicknamed the “Fame’s Favoured Few”.

He was aboard the B-17G #42-97479 “Belle of Liberty” when they departed England 30 December 1944 for a bombing run against Kaiserslautern, Germany. When they were approaching the target, one engine stopped working probably due to flak. They turned around and headed back to base at RAF East Kirby Station. Their first attempt to land, they overshot the runway and they turned around for a second try. About two miles from the base, a second engine stalled which caused them to crash and burst into flames. All of the 9 crewmen were killed.

The 92nd was constituted on 28 January 1942 and activated 1 March 1942. They arrive in England between July and August 1942 and commenced a bombing mission September 1942. In May 1943, they traded in their B-17E planes for the B-17F complement.

The crew of B-17G #42-97479 “Belle of Liberty” was:

Ball T Gun SGT Barner, Harold Raymond 39725742 Kansas

Waist Gun SGT Bedard, Wilfred A. 31398960 Maine

Togglier SGT Chambers, Charles H. 38008506 Nebraska

Navigator 2nd Lt Cowen, John H. Jr. O-2068371 Indiana

Radio OP SGT Estrada, Arthur Rivera 39847857 Arizona

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Porter, Edward A. Jr. O-782352 Massachusetts

Engineer SGT Van Standish, Thomas G. Jr 31310337 Massachusetts

Pilot 2nd Lt Stratton, Joseph M. Van O-825011 New Jersey

Tail Gun SGT White, William D. 36646875 Illinois

SGT Arthur Rivera Estrada was buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial located in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England, The Plot was F, Row 4, Grave 140 and the Memorial # 56289539.

Commendations:

Air Medal

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, SGT Arthur Rivera Estrada of the US Army Air Corps, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on 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 noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is jchisum@q.com

Resources:

Arthur R Estrada : Sergeant from Arizona, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

Sgt Arthur R Estrada (1921-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial

Arthur R. Estrada | American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)

UPL 30124 | American Air Museum in Britain

92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few | American Air Museum in Britain

327th Bomb Squadron | American Air Museum in Britain

42-97479 / Belle of Liberty | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies (b17flyingfortress.de)

42-97479 | American Air Museum in Britain