oldcrowcv63
Tech Sergeant
I've just learned that a friend: John Plosila, 99+ year old retired USAAF radio technician who was assigned to the 7th Pursuit Squadron of the 49th Pursuit Group deployed to Australia in the Spring of 1942 is lying gravely ill in a hospital in Indiana, USA. He is one of the last of his "greatest generation" that served from the very beginning of the war. After arriving with his comrades in Northern Australia via Short Empire Flying boat, his squadron performed well in forestalling the early Japanese aerial assault on Darwin during the Spring of 1942.
Plosila contributed to the ultimately successful allied effort to halt the steady advance of Japanese air forces that were swallowing up much of the Western Pacific at the time. His contribution to that effort is unique but, like those of his Pursuit group, has remained largely unheralded. Plosila worked on a special detail to reduce the weight of the P-40E by removing various equipment items, with the purpose of improving the aircraft's performance. Curtiss Wright technicians on scene observing the effort apparently were impressed with the innovative resourcefulness of the squadron maintenance operation.
The courageous defense of Darwin by the three P-40E squadrons of the 49th PG during the Spring of 1942 apparently provided the allies with some of the first successful aerial operations in the Southeastern Pacific Theater starting on 14 March. They were on the front line, in combat with a highly skilled, experienced and relentless foe, operating from hastily erected facilities and rough environmental conditions, while subjected to repeated bombing attacks, all of which cost them dearly.
If you have a moment and are so inclined, please turn your thoughts to him and pray for his ultimate recovery.
Plosila contributed to the ultimately successful allied effort to halt the steady advance of Japanese air forces that were swallowing up much of the Western Pacific at the time. His contribution to that effort is unique but, like those of his Pursuit group, has remained largely unheralded. Plosila worked on a special detail to reduce the weight of the P-40E by removing various equipment items, with the purpose of improving the aircraft's performance. Curtiss Wright technicians on scene observing the effort apparently were impressed with the innovative resourcefulness of the squadron maintenance operation.
The courageous defense of Darwin by the three P-40E squadrons of the 49th PG during the Spring of 1942 apparently provided the allies with some of the first successful aerial operations in the Southeastern Pacific Theater starting on 14 March. They were on the front line, in combat with a highly skilled, experienced and relentless foe, operating from hastily erected facilities and rough environmental conditions, while subjected to repeated bombing attacks, all of which cost them dearly.
If you have a moment and are so inclined, please turn your thoughts to him and pray for his ultimate recovery.
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