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]

Herb Bonn
Bonn, circa 1938
Personal information
Born(1916-01-14)January 14, 1916
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 7, 1943(1943-04-07) (aged 27)
South Pacific Ocean, off Oahu, Territory of Hawaii
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeDuquesne (1935–1937)
PositionForward
Career history
1937–1939Pittsburgh 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

  1. "Herbert Bonn". Peach Basket Society. Blogspot. 13 August 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  2. "Herbert Bonn NBL stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
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