Last Primary MOS
AAF 1056-Pilot Single-Engine Fighter
Last MOS Group
Aviation
Service Years
1942 - 1962
Last Photo
Personal Details
Home State
California
Year of Birth 1923
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ROBERT HENRY LAGUE Age 90, died on March 6, 2014 in Bakersfield , CA. of natural causes. Robert was born Oct. 31, 1923 in Highgrove, California, in his parents home. His parents were Jessie (Penprase) LaGue and Henry Leo LaGue. Robert spent many years in the US Army Air Corp (later called the US Air Force) and became a Lt. Col. He was in the 36th fighter squadron. He flew several fighter planes including a P38 Lighting, P51 Mustang, and a B47 Stratojet during World War 2 and the Korean war. -
Description (New Guinea Campaign 24 January 1943 to 31 December 1944) After the loss of Buna and Gona in New Guinea, the Japanese fell back on their stronghold at Lae. Their attempt to reinforce Lae by sea in March 1943 met with disaster when American and Australian planes sank most of the convoy in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Salamaua and Lae then became the objectives for an Allied advance along the northern coast of New Guinea. Fifth Air Force bombers attacked airfields at Wewak, 300 miles west of Lae, to neutralize them. The Allies dropped paratroops at Nadzab, just beyond Lae. Enemy resistance at Salamaua broke on 14 September 1943; Lae fell two days later. In the months that followed, MacArthur’s forces pushed westward, capturing some Japanese strongholds and bypassing others. After taking Hollandia in April 1944, the Allies attacked islands off the northern coast of New Guinea, taking Wakde and Biak in May, Owi in June, and Noemfoor in July. Sansapor on New Guinea also was gained in July. Aerial attacks on the Philippines began in August, and Morotai was seized in October to provide air bases for the invasion of the Philippines. Allied planes also bombed the oil center at Balikpapan and other targets in Borneo and Celebes.