Austin A. Straubel (September 4, 1904 – February 3, 1942) was a major in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Straubel was Brown County's first aviation loss in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, and Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport was named in his honor.

Early life

Austin was born to Carl A. and Alice C. (Van Dycke) Straubel on September 14, 1904, one of four children and the couple's only son. Austin Straubel's grandfather, H. August Straubel, was among the early settlers of Brown County, Wisconsin, arriving in 1846. August Straubel later joined the army and fought for the North in the Civil War. Straubel played tackle on the Green Bay East High School's football team. He attended the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

where he continued playing football. While at UW he joined

Delta Kappa Epsilon Delta Kappa Epsilon (), commonly known as ''DKE'' or ''Deke'', is one of the oldest fraternities in the United States, with fifty-six active chapters and five active colonies across North America. It was founded at Yale College in 1844 by fiftee ...

fraternity. After graduating in 1927, he returned to Green Bay and worked at his father's business, Midwest Cold Storage. Straubel married Isabel Lawson Walthall in 1936 and they moved to Los Angeles, where they had two daughters, Susan and Victoria ("Tori").Glenn, Justin. 2014. ''The Washingtons: A Family History''. Volume 2: ''Notable Members of the Presidential Branch''. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas.

Military career

Straubel joined the army in 1928. In 1929, an aircraft that he was piloting in Michigan caught fire and crashed; Straubel parachuted to safety. On December 7, 1941, Straubel was commanding the 11th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy). The group was stationed at Hamilton Field,

Hamilton Air Force Base Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

California, and their ground support troops had sailed on November 21 for the Philippines. Straubel's squadron was preparing for their flight to the Philippines. The situation was confused: orders called for some aircraft to fly west while others flew east. Joined by the eight others in his crew, Straubel flew Consolidated LB-30 (B-24) AL-609, via the African route, arriving at Singasori Field, Malang,

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...

at 11:30 am on January 11, 1942. They were part of a mixed group of B-17s and LB-30s, some of which flew missions over the Pacific, while others, like Straubel, flew over the Indian Ocean. In early 1942 in the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Allies tried to prevent the Japanese from occupying Borneo called the

Battle of Makassar Strait The Battle of Makassar Strait, also known as the Action of Madura Strait, the Action North of Lombok Strait and the Battle of the Flores Sea, was a naval battle of the Pacific theater of World War II. An American-British-Dutch-Australian (AB ...

. At the time, Straubel was commander of the

11th Bombardment Squadron An international call prefix, international dial-out code or international direct dial code (IDD code) is a trunk prefix that indicates an international phone call. In the dialling sequence, the prefix precedes the country calling code (and, furt ...

and acting commander of the 7th Bombardment Group. Five aircraft were assigned the group's first mission on January 16. Straubel led three LB-30s and two B-17s. The Liberators (LB-30s) were to bomb the airfield at Langoan while the Fortresses (B-17s) were to attack ships in Manado Bay. Straubel earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts that day. Straubel, unhappy with the relationship between 5th Bomber Command and his 7th Bomb Group, decided to meet with Major General, Lewis H. Brereton Deputy Chief of Staff. After meeting with Brereton, he departed for Malang Indonesia with three passengers the next day. On February 3, 1942, Major Straubel was joined by 2nd Lieutenant Russell M. Smith, copilot, and Staff Sergeant George W. Pickett, flight engineer. The three were flying a Douglas B-18 "Bolo" (36-338) to Bandung, Indonesia. While flying over the

Makassar Strait Makassar Strait is a strait between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi in Indonesia. To the north it joins the Celebes Sea, while to the south it meets the Java Sea. To the northeast, it forms the Sangkulirang Bay south of the Mangkalihat Pe ...

, Straubel's aircraft was attacked by Japanese Zeros and shot down. Straubel managed to land on an emergency airstrip, but he and the crew died from gunfire. According to another source, Straubel died from burns.

Legacy

Straubel was the first Brown County aviator to lose his life in World War II. In 1942, a U.S. Army camp in Australia was named after Straubel. On March 20, 1946, the Brown County Airport Committee asked the Brown County Board of Supervisors to "consider naming the new Brown County Airport in memory of Austin Straubel" and the Brown County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution to name their new airport Austin Straubel Field after Straubel for his dauntless courage, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice, and that he be recognized and honored in a memorable manner. Straubel, buried in Java, was reinterred at Green Bay's Woodlawn Cemetery on January 8, 1949.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Straubel, Austin 1904 births 1942 deaths People from Green Bay, Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin United States Army Air Forces bomber pilots of World War II United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II United States Army Air Forces pilots Air Corps Tactical School alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Green Bay East High School alumni