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Casualty Info
Home Town Tustin CA
Last Address Shot down by Japanese forces, listed as MIA, Air Crash, Island of Formosa. In 1950, the three crew members remains were recovered but they were not able to individually identify them. Lt. Murphy, Ordinanceman Skeffington, and Radioman Costello.
Casualty Date Oct 12, 1944
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Fort Scott National Cemetery (VA) - Fort Scott, Kansas
Description The Battle of Hollandia (code-named Operation Reckless) was an engagement between American and Japanese forces during World war II. It took place in spring of 1944 and was part of the New Guinea campaign. The landings were undertaken simultaneously with the amphibious landings at Aitape ("Operation Persecution") to the east. The battle was an unqualified success for the US forces, resulting in a withdrawal by the Japanese to a new strategic defence line in the west of New Guinea and the abandonment of all positions in the east of the island.
Initial operations commenced in the second week of March 1944 with air raids by the Fast Carrier Force on Palau and islands in the Carolines, while aircraft of the US 5th Air Force and the RAAF attacked Japanese airfields along the New Guinea coast from Wewak to the Vogelkop and on Biak Island.
On 30 March and continuing to 3 April these air forces attacked Hollandia itself and the airfields on the Sentani plain. Achieving complete surprise they were able to destroy nearly 100 aircraft on the ground, leaving 6 Air Div unable to resist the planned invasion.
On 16 to 18 April the amphibious forces sailed from their bases at Finschafen and Goodenough Island, taking evasive routes to confuse their intentions until they arrived off Hollandia during the night of 21/22 April. The landings took place at dawn on 22 April after a supporting naval bombardment at each site.
At Tanahmera Bay the two RCT’s from 24 Div. were able to land without opposition, but found the beach to be highly unsuitable. Backed by a swamp just 30 yards from the shoreline, and with just one exit trail unsuitable for vehicles, Tanahmera Bay was quickly written off as a landing site; while the infantry already ashore pressed on to the Sentani plain the remainder of 24 Div was diverted to Humboldt Bay, which had by this time been secured. After four days under these conditions the two units had reached the western airfield and on 26 April it was secured.
Meanwhile at Humboldt Bay 41 Div. also achieved complete surprise, and though the beaches were defended after the naval bombardment the Japanese troops there uncharacteristically abandoned their positions and fled inland. There was some opposition as they pressed forward, but by 24 April they had reached the lake and by 26 April secured the two eastern airfields. The two forces linked up the same day.
The collapse of Japanese resistance has been attributed to lack of preparedness, due to changes in the command structure and to a lack of combat troops; many of the 11,000 men based there were administrative and support units. None of the senior officers present had been in post more than a few weeks and the senior air officer had been relieved following the destruction of his air forces at the beginning of April. Neither Kitazono nor Endo had been able to prepare a comprehensive defence plan, and in any event had neither the men nor the resources to carry it out. On the other hand the Allied operation had been over-insured; concerns over the strength of the Japanese garrison had left the Allies with a four to one advantage in the event.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
April / 1944
To Month/Year
June / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories E. R. (Rick) Costello Aviation Radioman 2/C
Missing in action as of October 12, 1944, on a combat mission to Takao Harbor on the island of Formosa.
He was air crewman with V-T 20, attached to the carrier USS Enterprise, 3rd Fleet. For action in the Pacific theatre, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Costello, he attended Tustin elementary and high schools, having been graduated with the class of 1940. He entered the Navy Air Corps (USNR) November 28, 1942, and left April 12, 1944, for Pacific duty.
USS Enterprise, 5 battle stars between 12 April and 12 October 1944. Hollandia Landings Apr 21-24, 1944 Truk Atoll Apr 29, 1944 Marianas Islands Landings June 11-24, 1944 Philippine Sea June 19-20, 1944 Repair at Pearl Harbor July-August 1944 Bonin Islands Aug 31, 1944 Palau Landings Sep 10-17, 1944 Nansei Shoto Oct 10, 1944 Formosa (missing in action) Oct 12, 1944
