Thursday, September 15, 2011

Banis Square

in Memory of
S/Sgt. Joseph J. Banis
Born: August 9, 1908
Died in France
July 7, 1944


T/Sgt. Paul P. Banis
Born: July 31, 1921
Missing in Action
December 17, 1944


Banis Square is the intersection of Dorchester and Houghton Streets. A street-sign-style marker stands on the corner, as usual, but the stone and plaque have been moved into the corner lot which is now Banis Park. The dedicatory plaque is shared by Joseph and Paul, presumably brothers or cousins, though I have yet to confirm that.

Joseph served with the 329th Infantry, 83rd Division. We met them before, at Kirminas Square. They fought their way across Normandy, through the Battle of the Bulge, and deep into Germany. Joseph, unfortunately, did not make it beyond Normandy.

Paul served aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber piloted by Theodore King.Although he is listed as Missing in Action, we do know what happened to him:

"I, Staff Sargeant Kenje Ogata, 16037445, was ball turret gunner on an airplane in the same flight as First Lieutenant Theodore C. King, flying aircraft number 42-51941. On 17 December 1944, Lieutenant King was flying number two position, deputy flight leader, on a mission over the Odertal oil plant in Germany. Shortly after passing over the target the lead airplane seemed to be pulling out of the formation and Lieutenant King, in the deputy lead position, moved to take over the lead. As Lieutenant King let down his tail hit the number one propeller of the lead ship as it was coming back into its former position. I saw Lieutenant King’s airplane spiral down and go in a flat spin. The tail of Lieutenants King’s aircraft was sheared off. The weather was clear and just before the plane hit and burst into flame I saw one parachute open. This was at about 1255 hours at approximately 50 28N 18 04E, in Germany."

The single parachute belonged to S/Sgt. Joseph Weisler, the only man to make it out of the plane. He spent the rest of the war in a POW camp. Since the rest of the crew was never recovered, they remain listed as missing.

5 comments:

  1. Hi David- Paul and Joseph were brothers-they are my great uncles.
    Kelly

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    Replies
    1. My name is Natalie Page and I am the daughter of Katherine Paquette Page. Paul & Joeseph are mom's great Uncles as well on the Yankus/Banis side. We discovered a picture of one of the brothers just yesterday and started googling them in hopes to discover more information. Imagine our surprise when we read this!! I would be happy to send you the picture once I make copies if you would like it. You can e-mail me at natalienoellepage@gmail.com.

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    2. if you would email that phototo me at akicita44@msn.com,Iwould be honored to include it on this site

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  2. They were indeed brothers, they are my uncles from a large family of Worcester whose parents immigrated from Lithuania. Another brother, who also served in WW2 passed a few years after, possibly from war related problems. My mother was their sister, Leona, who worked at Waites Hardware during the war. Marilyn Keating-Porcaro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My name is Natalie Page and I am the daughter of Katherine Paquette Page. Paul & Joeseph are mom's great Uncles as well on the Yankus/Banis side. We discovered a picture of one of the brothers just yesterday and started googling them in hopes to discover more information. Imagine our surprise when we read this!! I would be happy to send you the picture once I make copies if you would like it. You can e-mail me at natalienoellepage@gmail.com.

      Delete