The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Long missing WWII pilot to be buried in Xenia

Parkhurst, Arthur Frances, 2nd Lieutenant, United States Army Air Corp, age 20, formerly of Evansville, IN passed away on March 12, 1945 in a Tropical Rain Forest on the Island of Leyte in the Phillipines. Lt. Parkhurst was the pilot of a cargo transport aircraft that went down while flying a mission in the Phillipines during World War II. He was declared missing in action until he was declared killed in action in 1946.

Child struck by train in Trenton
5:28 p.m.
Miami University puts regional director of admission, financial aid on paid leave
4:27 p.m.
Man indicted on porn charge involving infant
4:19 p.m.
Rosemary Clooney musical makes world debut in Dayton
3:34 p.m.
Ohio home sales started year with gains
2:07 p.m.
> More headlines

By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 1:34 AM Wednesday, October 13, 2010

KETTERING — The remains of a World War II pilot whose cargo transport plane went down in the tropical rain forest on the island of Leyte in the Philippines have been identified and will be buried at Valley View Gardens in Xenia, not far from the Kettering home of his only surviving next-of-kin, his brother.

Judson Parkhurst, 81, a retired Air Force civilian employee, said his first reaction was, “Wow!” when he learned about a month ago that his brother 2nd Lt. Arthur Frances Parkhurst had been identified after 65 years of being missing in action.

Parkhurst said his brother was only 20 miles out from Tanauan air strip on his second flight of the day March 12, 1945, when the Douglas C-47 Skytrain went down. He and five others were flying radio equipment, rations and other supplies to guerilla forces, according to a reconstruction of the event. They had made a delivery to those forces earlier that day.

Parkhurst said a farmer hunting for rattan poles found the crashed aircraft and recovered the remains. The remains were forwarded to Philippine police, who conveyed them to the U.S. military. A DNA test made the final identification, Parkhurst said. The farmer also found his brother’s dog tags, which were handed over to him in a velvet pouch. Also found was a leather boot.

A remaining mystery in the saga is the fate of barrels of fuel that were supposed to be aboard the aircraft, Parkhurst said. They were not found with the aircraft. It’s possible that, knowing the plane was going down, his brother ordered the fuel dumped to avoid an explosion. “It’s my supposition. If they had lost power and knew they would crash, they might have pushed the gas out of plane,” he said.

Parkhurst said his brother at the age of 16 entered a balloon contest and his balloon flew far enough to make him a winner. The prize was a free ride in an airplane. “After that, he was hooked on aviation,” he said.

U.S. Army Capt. Mike Vemeister said he’s proud to be involved in the repatriation. “He passed away 65 years ago and finally made it to U.S. soil to be put to rest. It’s a pretty amazing story. To close the loop after 65 years is just incredible.”

Lt. Parkhurst, of Evansville, Ind., was 20 when he died. He was first declared missing in action, then in 1946 he was declared killed in action.

He is the son of the late Craig W. and Ruby (McVay) Parkhurst. He was the brother of Ira (Dorothy M. Litty) Parkhurst, Willis (Olive A. Coleman) Parkhurst, Dorothy (Norris L.) Smith, and the financee of the late Marian M. Litty, all of whom are deceased. Nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews survive as do Judson Parkhurst and his wife Dotty.

Lt. Parkhurst graduated from Benjamin Bosse High School in Evansville and attended Evansville College as an Army Aviation Cadet Reservist.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday Oct. 16 at Central Christian Church, 1200 Forrer Boulevard, Kettering. The Rev. Dr. James C. Parkhurst, a nephew, and Rev. James E. Riggle will officiate.

Internment with full military honors will follow at Valley View Memorial Gardens in Xenia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Central Christian Church or a favorite charity. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7407 or sbennish@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article