The local paper ran an interesting front page article on the first local resident killed in WWII. I figured I would type some of it out to share with everyone.
J.D. Livingstone was first Clarksburg resident listed as casualty in WW2.The Northern Territory of Australia, and specifically Darwin is about 10,000 miles from Clarksburg. That's a long, long way from home.
Fighter pilot Lt. John Dick Livingstone Jr. died there April, 4th 1942 defending Darwin from one of many air raids by the Japanese on the city. Killed by friendly fire after shooting down one Japanese plane, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal. Livingstone was one of more than 400,000 American soldiers killed in WW2 after the country entered the war 70 years ago this month. And according to the Clarksburg Telegram of April 9th 1942, the 26 year old was the initial Clarksburg resident killed in combat during the war.
The headlines were bold and depressing that day. "First Harrison County Youth killed in Action against Japs," "British lose two cruisers to Japanese," "140 Harrison men receive army notices" and "County defense guide planned."
The Telegrams article spelled out some details of Livingstones early life. He was born Oct 15, 1915, to John D. and Jennie McKean Livingstone, who lived at 409 S Seventh S, a stately white home still stands there today, and is just a short walk from Washington Irving High School.
Livingstone graduated from Washington Irving in 1934 and had just one activity according to the yearbook, "The Three Graces". He then attended West Virginia University and was manager of the baseball team. He graduated from WVU in 1939. Livingstone then joined the Army and was a ski instructor in New York, then joined the US Army Air Corps.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor he flew a P-40 Fighter from Rochester NY to San Diego. Writer Bob Alford of Thailand is planning a book on the 49th FG in Australia, of which Livingstone was apart of.
"2nd Lt John D Livingstone joined the 9th pursuit squadron of the 49th Pursuit Group (it was changed to the 49th FG on May 26th 1942) at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach Florida on Nov 8th 1941 and was part of the group that arrived at Melbourne Australia on Feb 1 1942."
"The squadron moved from the RAAF Station in Darwin in light of enemy raids on the base and went to Batchelor some 60 miles South of Darwin, though aircraft were flown to Darwin and stood alert Daily. On April 4th 1942 a force of six G4M1 Betty Bombers of Takao Kokutai and six A6M2 Zeros of 3 Kokutai were intercepted by pilots of the 9th pursuit squadron when they raided the RAAF Station."
"The Americans were credited with 3 of the 6 Betties and 2 Zeros, whilst the Fannie Bat Battery of 14 Heavy Anti-Aircraft guns destroyed 2 Bettys. Of the three Bettys downed, one was located in the shallows of Nightcliff foreshore and another, tail number T-361 on Cox Peninsula West of Darwin. The third crashed into sea and was not located. The Japanese records show the loss of three Bettys and No Zeros, highlighting the overclaiming that became prevalent on both sides."
"Two P-40s were lost that day. John D. Livingstone and Grover J. Gardner flew over the RAAF station with their wheels lowered as the signal for the day but were fired on by the ground defenses. His aircraft shot up, Gardner baled out over Darwin harbor whilst Livingstone, apparently badly hit, struggled on to the 34-mile airstrip where he crashed and was killed. The Aircraft #41-24873 crashed on the Southern overrun of the airstrip and Livingstone "...was burnt and still sitting in the cockpit when I found him..." the Squadron CO James C. Selman wrote years later.
"Livingstone was buried initially at Darwin's Gardens cemetary in grave 11 of the military section on April 6th. Following the establishment of Adelaide River War Cemetary south of Darwin in mid-1942, Livingstone was reburied on July 10 1942 in Grave 116 Row 4."
"Lt. John D. Livingstone was officially credited with the destruction of one enemy aircraft on the day and was awarded the silver star via General Order No. 36 of 1942. The 34-mile airstrip was informally named Livingstone field by the squadron and it became officially named Livingstone Field via General Order No 52 of May 14th 1942 by order of Major General Julian F. Barnes."
Well, hope you enjoyed it. I jumped the gun and hit enter before I typed it out.
