John Paul Senter was the son of Paul Bradley Senter and Anna Lee Moneyhun.
Aviation Cadet, Staff Sergeant
38th Bomber Group, 405th Bomber Squadron
Aircraft B-25J with serial number 42-28099 was on a mission to Barge Sweep, North Coast of Ceram.
Statement from 1st Lt John F. Carte.
Lieutenant Kirk’s aircraft was last seen in the Seleman Bay area strafing a small enemy barge on the east coast of Cape Namaa. The trees were unusually high on this shore line and it would be very possible that Lieutenant Kirk’s aircraft mushed into the trees, disabling the aircraft. The gasoline fire was a short distance inland in line with Lieutenant Kirk’s run. The fire was in the midst of heavy jungle and no wreckage was observed.
John Senter is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri together with 1st Lt Jack Walfish, 1st Lt Wallace E. Kirk, S/Sgt Samuel A. Boccelli, SSgt Anthony P. Zingaro and 2nd Lt William E. Guyer. He was the son of Anna L. Senter of Bristol, Tennessee.
Crew members
Pilot, 2nd Lt William E. Kirk
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt William E. Guyer
BN, 2nd Lt Jack Walfish
EG, S/Sgt Samuel A. Boccelli
RG, S/Sgt John P. Senter
AG, S/Sgt Anthony P. Zingaro
The Bristol Herald Courier, 7 April 1946
Staff Sgt. John P. Senter, 24, is now listed as dead after being missing in action since October 5, 1944, his mother, Mrs. Paul B. Senter, 601 Taylor street, has been notified by the War Department. A communication to Mrs. Senter from Edward F. Witsell, major general, the adjutant general of the army, states: “Information in the hands of the War Department indicates that your son was a crew member of a B-25 aircraft which departed from its base on Biak island on a barge sweep mission along the northern coast of Ceram island in the Netherlands Indies. The bomber was last seen in the Seleman bay area off the east coast of Cape Namaa engaged in strafing a small enemy barge. Crew members of the accompanying bombers believe the plane crash-large gasoline fire, followed by two explosions similar to bombed a short distance inland, as a blasts, were observed. The remainder of the squadron, circled the location several times, but saw no indication of survivors. This investigation has failed to reveal any further information concerning the bomber and its missing crew members. Since no information has been received which would support a presumption of his continued survival the War Department must now terminate your son’s absence by a presumptive finding of death. Accordingly, an official finding of death has been recorded. The finding does not establish an actual or probable date of death; however, as requested by law, it includes a presumptive date of death for the termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts and payment of death gratuities. In the case of your son this date has been set as 25 March 1946.” Sgt. Senter was born October 26, 1920, the son of Mrs. Paul B. Senter and the late Paul B. Senter. He spent three and one-half years in service. He is survived by his mother, three sisters and two brothers, Josephine, Charlotte, Carolyn, Bradley and Samuel.
- Rank: Aviation Cadet, Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 26 September 1920
- Date of death: 5 October 1944
- County: Sullivan
- Hometown: Bristol
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 38th Bomber Group, 405th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor John P. Senter
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