Schonborg Family - Harold C. Schonborg - page 2

Former Venice Sports Star Loses Life

  Notice of the death of Harold Schonberg, S'38, was recently received by his parents from the U.S. Navy. Harold was reported lost after a United States attack on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.
EXCELLENT IN FOOTBALL
  While at Venice Harold was active in all sports, excelling in football. He received a scholarship from Loyola University, which he attended one year and in March, 1939, enlisted in the Navy. He was called to duty in April of the same year, becoming a radio man 1st class on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier.
  Late in 1940 he learned to fly at Pearl Harber and became a pilot. Transferred to the Atlantic Coast, Harold became a squad leader with two pilots under him, and flew Navy dive bombers and torpedo planes. 
TRAVELED WIDELY
  The Venice boy traveled in the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands and in the Atlantic Ocean from Norfolk, Virginia, to the New York Navy Yard. He also traveled to foreign lands, including Greenland, Iceland and England, and had many hazardous experiences with Naz[v]y U-boats and ships. At the outbreak of the war with Japan, Harold's ship sailed for Pacific waters and on New Year's Day he saw his family for the last time.
   The Oarsman sports staff salutes the boy who was not only a hero of the gridiron but also a hero in Americ's fight for democracy. Deepest sympathy is extended to members of his family.

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The War Department Files

National Archives & Records Administration

Navy Department Files

Radioman 3c Harold Carl Schonborg

Branch of Service: U.S. Navy

Hometown: Culver City, CCA

Status: KIA

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World War II

Missing in Actioin or Buried at Sea

ID:    03820932

Entered the Service From:  California

Rank: Radioman, Third Class

Servcie: U.S.Navy, United States Navy

Died:  Monday, November 26, 1945

Memorialized at: Honolulu Memorial

Location: Honolulu, HI, USA

Awards: Purple Heart

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Believed to be Harold Schonborg - 1941

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Four significan efforts were mounted during February and March 1942, porviding three TBD squadrons with "warm-up" experience for greater things. On 1 February the Enterprise task force struck the Marshall Islands while Yorktown's group attacked the Gilberts. The "Big E" kicked off with a predawn launch against Kwajalein Atoll - 37 SBDs and nine TBDs, which bombed a light cruiser and a submarine. Lt Cdr Lindsey's aircraft released 54 500-lb general-purpose bombs with marginal results.

    A false Alarm of two carriers in the lagoon prompted the launch of nine more TBDs under the command of VT-6 executive officer Lt Cdr Lance Massey in the US Navy's first aerial torpedo attack. Finding no carriers, the 'torpeckers' were lucky, with only thre aeroplanes damaged, but the "Big E's" report stated prophetically:

    'Fighter protection for VT is mandatory. Fortunately, in this action VT-6 encountered no air opposition, but it is certain that their mission [next page]would not have been accomplished had they been intercepted by enemy fighters which were in the near vicinity."

    Yorktown's avaitors also fared poorly this day (Actually 31 January across the International Date Line). In marginal weather they lost six of the 28 first strike aircraft, four of those belonging to Torped Five, which apparently fell victim to the weather conditions. Lt H T Johnson, the squadron's executive officer flying No 7 (BuNo3298), and Ens H R Heim in No 6 (1516), ditched out of fuel.

    With their crewmen they madee their way to tiny Gebu Island, where they were accepted by friendly Micronesians. However, two days later the Jamapese found the Americans, who spent the rest of the war in captivity. Two more Torpedo Five aerolplanes apparently collided in heavy cloud as Lt Jack C Moore's No 8 (0352) aborted when Lt(jg) R Denniston was unable to retract his landing gear.

    Only two enemy ships were damaged in return for these losses.

    Three weeks later, on 24 February, Enterprise hit Wake Island with minimal results. Nine TBDs dropped 108 100-lb bombs from 12,000 ft as VT-6 attacked oil tanks and a moored seaplane, but overall damage was limited. then on 4 March, the "Big E' attacked Marcus Island, without launcghing VT-6, and without substantive damage to either side.

    Torpedo Six lost an aircraft on 18 February when Lt(jg) John T Eversole became disoriented in high winds and made a water landing about 60 miles from the task force. Happily, the crew of 'Tare 18' was rescued by a destroyer the next day and returned to Enterprise. Additionally, VT-3 lost a Devastator on the 22nd, a reminder that naval aviatioin posed more hazards than enemy aircraft or AA guns.

    Upon Enterprise's return to Peaerl Harbor, VT-6's executive officer was reassigned. Lt Cdr lance E Massey assumed command of Saratoga's Torpedo Three, relieving Lt Cdr J E Clark. Massey inherited Clark's well-conceived doctrine of torpedo attack, and decided to keep the previous CO's tactics, which would be tested in less than 90 days.

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