Carroll Napier Langston Jr (1917 - 1944)

Born 25 Sep 1917 in Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Rebecca (Wilson) Finnel — married 19 Jun 1943 in Etowah, Alabama, United States

Died 7 Jun 1944 at age 26 in Italy

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Biography

Carroll Langston Jr is Notable.

2 Lt Carroll Langston Jr was Killed in Action during World War II.

Carroll Langston Jr is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Carroll Langston Jr was awarded the Purple Heart.

Carroll was an only child, born in 1917 to Carroll Napier Langston and Vivien Cashin in Nashville. When he was young, his parents moved to Chicago, where Carroll attended primary school. He graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1934,^[1] and from Oberlin College in 1938^[2], where he lettered on the baseball team. His major was French. Carroll went on to attend the Univerisity of Michigan, where he earned a degree in law. In 1941, he joined a law practice in Chicago, but within short time he enrolled in the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, being one of the first cadets to graduate. He completed his training Oct 2, 1943 and was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. He was sent to Italy in January of 1944. ^[3]

On June 7, 1944, Carroll was flying on a combat mission, where he departed from Ramitelli Air base destined for Ferra. Lt. Harold Sawyer, was flying with him when Carroll called in that he was having engine trouble. The oil temperature exceeded 100 degrees, and the pressure was down to zero. He was last seen clinging to the side of the plane when it hit the water. His dingy was open from his straps and chute, but not entirely inflated. Sawyer left because of low fuel but called in to Air-Sea Rescue on behalf of Carroll. The crash occurred 10 miles off the coast near San Benedetti, Italy.

On June 26, a body was found washed on the beach from the Adriatic Sea near Pineta, Italy. Identification tags on the body proved to be that of 2nd Lt. Carroll N Langston, O-814197. He was temproarily buried near the place of discovery with a distinct marker for identification. ^[4]After the war, Carroll was buried in a temporary cemetery in Europe until he was brought home for burial at the request of his family. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville, TN ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Class Yearbook, Hyde Park High School, 1934 pg. 51
2. ↑ Oberlin College Year book: 1938, pg. 286
3. ↑ Nashville Banner, 14 Jul 1944, pg.4.
4. ↑ Missing Air Crew Report 5639
5. ↑ Find A Grave # 27346529

• https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=323449