Arnett Wayman Starks Jr.
December 1, 1919 – April 1, 1946
Class: 44-E-SE
Graduation Date: 5/23/1944
Unit: 332nd Fighter Group, 100th Fighter Squadron
Service # T63109
Arnett Wayman Starks Jr. was born on 1 December 1919 in Los Angeles, California. His father, Arnett Starks Sr., was a railway porter and his mother, Clara Mathonican, was a maid.
Starks registered for the draft on 1 July 1941 in Los Angeles before enlisting on 5 August 1942.
On 31 March 1945: The 332d Fighter Group conducted a fighter sweep and strafing mission against railroad and other targets in the Munich area of southern Germany. (332d Fighter Group mission report number 252) During the mission, twelve members of the group shot down a total of 13 enemy airplanes, including FW-190s and Me- 109s. The victors included 1 st Lt Robert W. Williams, who shot down 2 FW-190s, and Maj William A. Campbell, 1st Lts Roscoe C. Brown, Earl R. Lane, and Daniel L. Rich, 2d Lts Raul W. Bell, Thomas P. Brasswell, John W. Davis, James L. Hall, Hugh J. White, and Bertram W. Wilson, Jr, and Flight Officer John H. Lyle, who each shot down one enemy aircraft. (Fifteenth Air Force General Orders 2292 and 2293 from 1945) Three 332d Fighter Group P-51D pilots were reported missing that day, including 2d Lt. Arnett W. Starks, Jr and 1st Lt. Clarence N. Driver of the 100th Fighter Squadron, and 2d Lt. Frank N. Wright of the 99th Fighter Squadron. Driver went missing at 1315 hours over northern Italy probably because of low fuel. Wright went into a spin while in pursuit of the enemy at 1420 hours over Landshut, Germany. Starks was hit by enemy antiaircraft artillery at 1430 hours over Voklammerkt, Germany. (332d Fighter Group mission report number 252 and Missing Air Crew Report numbers 13211, 13212, and 13216). 1st Lts. Robert W. Willliams and Bertram W. Wilson Jr., both of the 100 th Fighter Squadron, each earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions on this day. (Fifteenth Air Force General Order 3484 dated 29 May 1945).
Arnett passed away on 1 April 1946 at the young age of 25 somewhere outside of the USA. However, the exact location is unclear. His burial took place three years after his death on 26 August 1949 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Wendell Lucas, George E. Cisco, Kenneth M. Wright, Richard H. Bell, Leonolle A. Bonam, Charles V. Brantley, James E. Chineworth, Harry J. Davenport, Jr., John W. Davis, Samuel J. Foreman, Thomas L. Hawkins, Louis K. Harris, George K. Hays, Aaron Herrington, Earl B. Highbaugh, Wendell W. Hochaday, George J. Iles, Thomas W. Jefferson, Jimmy Lanham. Clarence A. Oliphant, Ralph Orduna, Robert A. Pillow, Jr., James C. Ramsey, LeRoy Roberts, Jr., Arnett W. Starks, Jr., William C. Walker, Jr., Samuel W. Watts, Jr., Robert W. Williams, Bertram W. Wilson, Jr. Hiram Wright
