Gaines Isaac Milligan was the son of Isaac Pleasant “Ike P.” Milligan and Anna M. Shadden. Husband of Caroline Elizabeth “Betty” Chester and father of Gaines Isaac Milligan Jr.
Enlisted 7 January 1942
Died non Battle 26 March 1943
Memorialized at the Honolulu, HI Memorial
Second Lieutenant
2nd Island Command Group, 70th Bomber Squadron, Medium
At approximately 2230Z, 25 March 1943 aircraft B-25C with serial number 42-32302 on a routine Gunnery Practice mission crashed 20 miles from Viti Levu (Fiji Island). The body of Lt Milligan was not recovered. All the crew went down with the plane. Search disclosed empty life raft and other impedimenta floating on the water.
Crew members
Pilot, 2nd Lt Gaines I. Milligan
Engineer, S/Sgt Barnard Levine
Gunner, S/Sgt Francis L. Tahler
Radio Operator, S/Sgt Donald A. Purdy
Crew Chief, S/Sgt Leo F. Pappas
Passenger PFC James E. Blackwell
Picture from the U.S. School Yearbook Central High School, Chattanooga, Tennessee 1936.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 30 March 1943
Mr. and Mrs. I.P. Milligan, 1404 Bailey Avenue, received word Sunday from the War Department that their son, Second Lt. Gaines I. Milligan, had been reported missing in action since March 25. According to reports, Lt. Milligan and five other soldiers were flying to an unannounced destination from a West Coast base. He was reported missing in the Pacific area. Lt. Milligan is well known in Chattanooga, having attended Central High School. He was a student at the University of Chattanooga when he enlisted in the air corps in January of 1942.
Lt. Milligan married Miss Betty Chester, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Chester of Riverview. He was stationed at the army air base in Columbia, S.C. until he received orders for foreign service. Since his transfer his wife has been at the home of her parents. Lt. Milligan received his training at Maxwell Field, Gunter Field, Carlston Field and Turner Field. He was graduated as a second lieutenant last October. The young pilot is survived by his wife; parents, Mr. and Mrs. I.P. Milligan; brother, Ernest Milligan; sisters, Mrs. L. Jack Spence, Mrs. Gam H. Sells, Mrs. Waler C. Groner and Mrs. W.G. Foster Jr.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of death: 26 March 1943
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 2nd Island Command Group, 70th Bomber Squadron, Medium
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Gaines I. Milligan
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