Herb Bonn
Herbert Sidney Bonn (January 14, 1916 – April 7, 1943) was an American professional basketball player and World War II fighter pilot.[1][2] After a college career at Duquesne University in which he was a first-team All-American in 1935–36, Bonn played in the National Basketball League for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1937 and 1939.[2] In his 15-game NBL career, Bonn averaged 5.7 points per game.[2] He fought in World War II in the United States Navy and was killed in action in a crash off Hawaii.[1]
 Bonn, circa 1938 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 14, 1916 Aliquippa, Pennsylvania |
| Died | April 7, 1943 (aged 27) South Pacific Ocean, off Oahu, Territory of Hawaii |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Duquesne (1935–1937) |
| Position | Forward |
| Career history | |
| 1937–1939 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Military career and death
On April 7, 1943, Bonn took off from Kanoehe Airfield on Oahu in a B-24 Liberator with a crew of ten. Whilst conducting a night navigation operation, Bonn's aircraft crashed into the South Pacific Ocean. When the Liberator did not return, all 10 on board were listed missing in action, presumed dead. Bonn and his crew have no known grave, and they are memorialized at the Punchbowl Cemetery.
References
- "Herbert Bonn". Peach Basket Society. Blogspot. 13 August 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- "Herbert Bonn NBL stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 10, 2016.