John Irwin Day

Second Lieutenant John Irwin Day enlisted in the US Army Air Forces on Aug. 16, 1941, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as an aviation cadet. He was assigned to Ventura Air Academy in Oxnard, California, and began his training on Aug. 23, 1941. He completed his training there in fall 1941 and was awarded the Blackwell Trophy for proficiency, the highest award that could be granted to a graduating cadet. Around January 1942, he was transferred to Luke Army Airfield in Arizona for advanced training. In spring 1942, he received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant and was stationed at Dale-Mabry Army Airfield in Tallahassee, Florida. In May of the same year, he was assigned to Morris Army Airfield Field, North Carolina. Shortly before his deployment overseas, he married Lorraine Smith. Second Lieutenant Day deployed to Panama with the 15th Fighter Squadron of the 53rd Fighter Group, flying P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft out of Howard Army Airfield in June of 1942. On Aug. 20, 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Day's P-39D, s/n 41-7041, crashed while on patrol duty over waters around Verde Island, Panama. He was initially interred overseas but was re-interred at Hillside Cemetery in Lancaster, Wisconsin.