Pharis Estell Weekley (1922 - 1943)

Born 18 Jul 1922 in Hampton, South Carolina, United States

Died 1 Aug 1943 at age 21 in Ploiești, Prahova, Romania

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Biography

Pharis Weekley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Pharis Weekley was awarded the Purple Heart.

Pharis Weekley was awarded the Air Medal.

2nd Lieutenant Pharis Weekley served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 27 Mar 1942
Unit(s): 329th Bombardment, 93rd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Service ended: 1 Aug 1943

2nd Lieutenant Pharis Weekley was Killed in Action when his bomber crashed near the target on a mission to Ploesti, Rumania during World War II.

Pharis was born 18 July 1922 in Hampton, South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas M. Weekley and Naomi G. Cox

Pharis was the navigator of the B-24 Liberator bomber, ‘The Lady Jane’ #42-40804 on the 1 August 1943 mission to the Oil Fields and Refineries at Ploesti, Rumania named Operation Tidal Wave. His bomber crashed near the target. All of the crew except for the bomber's tail gunner were killed. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart for the mission.

Pharis' remains were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency 12 July 2022.^[1]. He was laid to his final rest at Bougainvillea Cemetery in Avon Park, Florida 20 May 2023.^[2]

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #56367301 (accessed 30 June 2023)
  Memorial page for 2LT Pharis Estell Weekley (18 Jul 1922-1 Aug 1943), citing Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy (plot: Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy (Recovered)); Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).
• 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1940; Census Place: Fort Myers, Lee, Florida; Roll: m-t0627-00596; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 36-13
  Ancestry Record 2442 #130833035 (accessed 1 July 2023)
  Pharis Weekley (17), single son, in household of T M Weekley (46) in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida. Born in Florida.

Sources

1. ↑ Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency - Airman Accounted For From World War II (Weekley, P.), PRESS RELEASE, Feb. 27, 2023
2. ↑ Weekley finally home, laid to rest
   Highland News - Sun
   By PHIL ATTINGER Staff Writer May 21, 2023

• LaBELLE FLIER MISSING: "Newspapers.com"
  The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Fri, Aug 20, 1943, page 15
  Newspapers Clip: 127406435 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• Lt. Pharis Weekley Praised as Air Hero: "Newspapers.com"
  News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) Fri, Sep 17, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 127406546 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• Memorial Service To Honor Airman: "Newspapers.com"
  News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) Sun, Nov 7, 1943, page 5
  Newspapers Clip: 127406495 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• LaBelle Navigator Is Killed in Action: "Newspapers.com"
  The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Wed, Nov 3, 1943, page 2
  Newspapers Clip: 127406516 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• U. S. ARMY PERSONNEL KILLED IN ACTION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN AREA: "Newspapers.com"
  The Miami News (Miami, Florida) Sun, Nov 21, 1943, page 12
  Newspapers Clip: 127406455 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• News About Service Men: "Newspapers.com"
  News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) Sat, Dec 25, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 127406399 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• Mother to Receive Army Flying Cross Awarded Dead Son: "Newspapers.com"
  The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) Tue, Jan 4, 1944, page 6
  Newspapers Clip: 127406353 (accessed 1 July 2023)
• Military: "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, MO, USA; Applications for Headstones, 1/1/1925 - 6/30/1970; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2375 #2837334 (accessed 1 July 2023)
  Name: Pharis E Weekley; Rank: 2nd Lieutenant; Birth Date: 18 Jul 1922; Service Number: 14 066 846 ;0673652; Service Branch: US Army Air Corps; Unit: 329th Sq 93rd Groupe; Enlistment Date: 27 Mar 1942; Discharge Date: 1 Aug 1943; Death Date: 1 Aug 1943; Cemetery: Bouganvilla Cemetery; Cemetery Location: USA.
• Personnel Profile: 2D LT PHARIS ESTELL WEEKLEY, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
• National Archives - Missing Air Crew Report number 328 Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Series: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs)
• American Air Museum in Britain - Pharis E Weekley
• American Air Museum in Britain - B-24 Liberator Bomber ‘ The Lady Jane - Bertha’ #42-40804