Russell Alonson Betts

2nd Lieutenant, US Army

Service #O-410692

Assigned to the 77th Bomb Squadron,
23rd Air Base Group, Alaska,
Pacific Theater of Operations

Died on April 29, 1942
On Kodiak Island, Alaska, See Note 1
Officially Listed as Died Non-Battle

Final Burial Location:
Division IOOF, Row 44, Lot 210, Grave 4
Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho

As listed in FindAGrave.com Memorial 14300248

Awards:

American Campaign
Service Medal

Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal

World War II
Victory Medal

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded to Service members serving outside the Continental United States in the American Theater for at least 30 days between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, or who served during that period for an aggregate period of 1 year in the Continental United States.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.

2LT Russell A. Betts was born February 17, 1911 in Southwick, Idaho
Son of Cleo Alonson Betts, 1887-1935 and Ola B. Lincoln (Betts) Westgate

Russell Betts married Mildred Fairley Smith Betts, 1912-1990 and had two children.

His loss is recorded in the
Washington World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing, page 1, Asotin County,
published by the War Department in June 1946.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
Yes Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave Marker Photo, Find A Grave
Yes Official Accident Report
No Photo of veteran
Yes State of Alaska Death Certificate
No Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No WWII Draft Card Data
No WWII Hospital Admission Records

Note 1, Death Location: "On Kodiak Island, Alaska" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of 2LT Betts, this location was validated on:

A. His OQMC Form 623, Application For Headstone or Marker, identifies his assigned unit as Headquarters, 77th Bomb Squadron, 23rd Air Base Group, entered the USAAF as August 15, 1941 and date of death as April 29, 1942.

B. At the time 2LT Betts died he was a crewmember of a Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bomber with the 23rd Air Base Group. As stated on the Territory of Alaska Certificate of Death, his aircraft crashed near Kodiak Island, Alaska on April 29, 1942.

C. The other airmen killed in this accident:
1st Lt Edward James Tuma, Pilot, Find A Grave 7899785
2nd Lt Thomas A McDermott, Find A Grave 140884517
2nd Lt James F Wilson, Find A Grave 22877370
TSgt Harold B Steele, Find A Grave 127180258
SSgt Glenn R Harris, Find A Grave 109508305
PVT Rodney Lee Tester, Find A Grave 81834115

D. Further details on this Douglas B-18A crash can be found at the Kodiak Alaska Military History website Douglas B-18A "Bolo" A/C No. 37-522.

Do you have comments, questions, corrections or updates about 2LT Russell Betts? With Military Honors would like to hear from you. To submit a picture, leave a comment or add any relevant military or family information to honor this veteran, send an email to nick@withmilitaryhonors.com.
Your information will be reviewed and posted as soon as it can be processed.

Washington State > Asotin County, Army and AAF > Russell A. Betts

Page last updated June 10, 2020