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Location of Interment Highland Cemetery - Ozark, Arkansas
Official Badges
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
AAF Tail#40-2244 Take Off Order 8 Target - Tokyo
Theodore Laban was one of the 80 airmen who, under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, disembarked from the U.S.S. Hornet in the first bombing raid over Tokyo in World War II. Following the raid, due to mechanical problems, his aircraft had insufficient fuel to reach China and landed at a field near Vladivostok, Russia. There, the neutral Soviets confiscated the bomber and interned the crew until they subsequently escaped to Persia and returned home in May 1943. Theodore Laban thereafter served overseas in England, the Philippine Islands and Guam.
Pilot
Cpt.
Edward J. Ski York
Batavia, NY
Aug 31, 1984
Co-Pilot
Lt.
Robert G. Emmens
Medford, OR
Apr 02, 1992
Nav./Bomb.
Lt.
Nolan Anderson Herndon
Greenville, TX
Oct 7, 2007
Engineer
Sgt.
Theodore H. Laban
Kenosha, WI
Sep 16, 1978
Gunner
Sgt.
David William Pohl
Boston, MA
Feb 18, 1999
Other Comments:
Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Sergeant Theodore H. Laban (ASN: 6559855), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Engineer of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Sergeant Laban with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.
