Birth: Jul. 10, 1924 Death: Jul. 11, 1944

Orus Ezra Baxter, Jr. TSGT US Army Air Corps: Born July 10, 1924 to Orus Baxter (born 7 Dec 1897) of Yeager, Hughes County, Oklahoma. Enlisted in the US Army Air Corp on November 21, 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Records say he was 5'7" tall and weighed 142 pounds and had completed 3 years of high school. In an article published on October 5, 1944 in the Ada Weekly News, Orus was included in a list of Oklahoma service members Missing in Action. Orus received the Air Medal and was added to the list of Bravehorse Warriors as a member of the Creek Nation. The Bravehorse Warriors includes such Native American names as Red Cloud, Dull Knife, and Quanah Parker to name a few. All Native American tribes are represented in the Society. There is a website at http://www.fallennotforgotten.nl/Story00046.htm with pictures of Orus and one of his crews of B-24 Liberators who were all killed in a crash on April 29, 1944 in which the article states that they were all killed in the crash except Orus. Orus at the time was a member of the 578th Bomber Squadron - 392nd Bomber Group (Heavy) and was a member on the crew of plane #42-110105, a B-24J Liberator piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Robert R. Bishop. The plane left on its 10th bombing mission over Berlin and "After facing the first attack from enemy fighters, the Sabourin crew (witnesses) reported seeing Bishop's plane pulling away from formation, reporting that "it looked like the right elevator was shot up badly – no parachutes". Memorial stone in Wetumka Cemetery, Hughes County, Oklahoma. Unit listed on stone is 44 Bomber GP AAF, AM & OLC-PH.
Orus Ezra Baxter, Jr. was born in 1924 to Orus Ezra Baxter (1897-1967) of Yeager, Hughes County, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corp on November 21, 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Records say he was 5'7" tall and weighed 142 pounds and had completed 3 years of high school. He was a Creek Indian.

Baxter became the engineer on 2/Lt Robert R. Bishop's crew. Military orders dated 10 Apr 1944 transferred them to the 392nd Bomb Group in Wendling, Norfolk, England.

STORY continued on the "Find A Grave" page, link to the left……..

(by Annette Tison, 392nd Bomb Group researcher)

(Please see Find A Grave link below the Map to the Left)

Barbi Ennis Connolly

Orus Baxter Jr