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Name: John Robert Staples Rank: Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (ADC), Chief Petty Officer Service Number: 3760546 Service: Patrol Squadron Seven, United States Navy Awards: Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, National Defense Service Medal Date of Birth: July 25, 1916 Place of Birth: Belmont, Colchester County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: May 9, 1940 Place of Enlistment: San Francisco, California Age at Enlistment: 23 Address at Enlistment: Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts Date of Death: January 24, 1954 Age: 37 Cemetery: Hillcrest Cemetery, Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts John Robert Staples was the son John James Staples (1890–1950) and Ada Constance (Marshall) Staples (1891–1975). His father was born in Belmont, Colchester Co., NS, like John and his mother was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. John had eight siblings – Donald Richard Staples (1910–1968), Eva Grace Staples (1914–1914), James Herbert Staples (1919–1920), Kenneth Marshall Staples (1922–2008), David Alexander Staples (1924–1996), Kathryn Elizabeth Staples (1926–2010), Frederick Howard Staples (1928–2002), and Gladys Mary Staples (1932–2015). John’s brother Kenneth served the United States in the Second World War with the US Army from 23 October 23, 1942, until January 6, 1946. Like John, his brother David served in both World War II and the Korean War. He served in the US Navy from April 3, 1942 until January 5, 1946, and then from March 12, 1951, until December 31, 1952. In 1942 he served on the USS US Grant (AP-29), a transport. The Grant was originally a German ocean liner named König Wilhelm II seized by American in WWI, renamed USS Madawaska (ID-3011) in 1917, and then the USS Grant in 1922. In 1943, David also served on the USS General GO Squier (AP-130), the lead ship of her class of transport ship. John served in the Naval Air Service of the US Navy during WWII after enlisting pre- war on April 19, 1940. He was already serving in the Pacific when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred and the United States entered the war in December 1941. John married Frances Madge Wells (born 1924) on November 18, 1949, in Duval, Florida. John Staples served with the US Navy’s Patrol Squadron 7 (VP-7) in the Pacific. VP- 7 was transferred to USNS Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, on June 28, 1953 for operations in support of United Nations action in Korea. VP-7 was called upon to fly reconnaissance and screening missions in support of Task Force 77 in the Korean War. Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Staples was the plane captain of a P2V-5 Neptune patrol bomber, aircraft HE 10 (serial number 124874), with Patrol Squadron 7, based at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, in O'ahu, Hawaii. On January 22, 1954, as the plane was making a landing approach it crashed into the southeast slope of Mount Puu Kaua in O’ahu, killing 7 crewmen. The other six crew were as follows: Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AD2), Petty Officer 2nd Class AD2 Joseph Daniel Beczek Aviation Electronics Technician (AT3), Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Newton Brown Ensign Wilbur Duvall Cooper Lieutenant Junior Grade Walter J Hanzo Ensign Gerald Martin Hazlett Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM2), Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Martin Koehler Aviation Electronics Technician (AT2), Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Joseph Maksymon Although the Korean War officially ended July 27, 1953, with the signing of the Armistice, John Robert Staples and the other crew of the flight could be considered some of the last Korean War casualties. “Navy aircraft fought in the Korean War and Navy Patrol Squadron (VP) aircraft shared in the action. In the Korea area of operations, VP squadrons participated in the blockade of North Korea, keeping merchant shipping and fishing fleets under surveillance and deterring hostel submarine activity. Patrol aircraft contributed to mine hunting and laying as well as dropping flares for air strikes. They also conducted weather reconnaissance and search and rescue operations. Patrol Squadron Seven (VP-7) arrived in June 1953 from NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island less than one month before the armistice on July 27, 1953. It was the only squadron from the Atlantic Fleet to deploy to the Korean War zone. The squadron was equipped with P2V-5 Neptune patrol aircraft and was based out of NAS (Naval Air Station) Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. During the deployment the squadron patrolled the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. The squadron departed the Western Pacific in January 1954. The last aircraft to depart was tail code HE 10, serial number 124874. In the Navy, aircraft serial numbers are known as Bureau Numbers or ByNos. ByNo 124874 was configured for mine laying and was the "Hanger Queen" during the deployment, meaning that it was used for parts and that it spent much of its time parked in the hanger. On January 21, 1954, the eight-man crew of "HE 10" made a missed approach trying to land at NAS Barbers Point, O’ahu, Hawaii on its way home after the war. The aircraft turned left into the center of the island, rather than turn right out over the ocean. The aircraft impacted the Waianae Mountain range at approximately 9:30 PM. You could consider these men to be some of the last casualties of the Korean War. The sad remnants of the VP-7 P2V-5 Neptune still lie in the Waianae Mountain range on O’ahu. The aircraft rests on a steep, thirty-degree slope. A broken tree stands testament to the tremendous impact forces. Many small trees have grown up around and into the site. Countless twisted and mangled pieces of metal are scattered around the site. The remains of the crew along with the guns and some of the electronics have long since been removed. The tail section including the tail gun turret is the largest piece of wreckage. The BuNo under the left tail plane is in perfect shape, almost like it was painted yesterday. Evidence of the traumatic crash and fire can be seen on the fuselage and various parts. A left wing section still bears the insignia of a white star on one side and the letters NA for NAVY on the other. One of the 3700 hp Wright Cyclone R 3350-30W engines is located next to the fuselage and the other is further down the slope next to a tree. It is believed that a large amount of wreckage was either lost to the crash fire or buried in the ground. No excavation at the site is permitted. Many of these people have been forgotten and the history lost, however these men are now remembered. The crash of this P2V-5 Neptune aircraft is an important legacy of the Korean War. Don't forget those who served and sacrificed in the Forgotten War.” - Legacy of the Korean War in Hawaii by Dave Trojan

Remembering the Korean War Korean War Casualties with a Nova Scotia Connection

Sources: findagrave American Battle Monuments Commission Patrol Squadron 7 VP-7 Mishap