He was the son of Joseph Francis Rahier and Della L (James) Rahier.
Rahier was assistant flight engineer on B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Rahier and his crew were at hangar 15 preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, injuring Rahier and three more of the crew, and killing two.
In March of 1942 He was on one of the planes sent to the Philippines to evacuate General MacArthur and his staff.
On August 14, 1942, Rahier was the flight engineer and upper turret gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Rahier was from Itasca County, MN, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Rahier was assistant flight engineer on B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Rahier and his crew were at hangar 15 preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, injuring Rahier and three more of the crew, and killing two.
In March of 1942 He was on one of the planes sent to the Philippines to evacuate General MacArthur and his staff.
On August 14, 1942, Rahier was the flight engineer and upper turret gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Rahier was from Itasca County, MN, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
He was the son of Joseph Francis Rahier and Della L (James) Rahier.
Rahier was assistant flight engineer on B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Rahier and his crew were at hangar 15 preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, injuring Rahier and three more of the crew, and killing two.
In March of 1942 He was on one of the planes sent to the Philippines to evacuate General MacArthur and his staff.
On August 14, 1942, Rahier was the flight engineer and upper turret gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Rahier was from Itasca County, MN, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Rahier was assistant flight engineer on B-24A #40-2371. He and his crew belonged to the 88th reconnaissance Squadron, and arrived at Hickam Field, Hawaii on December 5, 1941 to complete final preparations for a secret project to photograph Japanese military bases in the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Problems were encountered in installing the machine guns and the aircraft was still there on the morning of 7 December. That morning, Rahier and his crew were at hangar 15 preparing their plane for a short check flight before leaving on the next leg or their journey when the Japanese attack began. A bomb hit the hangar, injuring Rahier and three more of the crew, and killing two.
In March of 1942 He was on one of the planes sent to the Philippines to evacuate General MacArthur and his staff.
On August 14, 1942, Rahier was the flight engineer and upper turret gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Rahier was from Itasca County, MN, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Minnesota.
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