Jack Peres Crash Site, Medals and Grave site
The crash site of Jack Peres is located approximately 30km North East of the Darwin CBD with only small fragments of the wreckage remaining.
Below information is from the Diary of Koolpinyah Station via the Alford Collection. Jack's aircraft and remains lay undiscovered until station hands at Koolpinyah station discovered his wreckage on the 5th of September 1942. A party from the station went back the following day and finds bones and retrieves some items. On the 7th September 1942 Captain Powell (USA) is led to the site and collects Jack's remains and personal items that were not burnt in the fire. Jack Peres is formally identified by a Bulova Watch found on his body engraved with his name. (Alford Collection 2019b).
The remains of Jack Peres were buried at the Adelaide River War cemetery before being exhumed and reburied back home at Santa Barbara Cemetery in California. Posthumously Jack was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His parents and sister were present to receive the medals. Along with the Distinguished Service Cross Peres was awarded the following American Defence Service Medal , American Defence Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal and Army Air Force Pilot Badge.
Below is the citation for his award.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Jack R. Peres (ASN: 0-416707), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 33d Pursuit Squadron (Provisional), 8th Pursuit Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 19 February 1942, during an air mission near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Second Lieutenant Peres was Pilot of one of a flight of ten pursuit airplanes forced by unfavorable weather to turn back from a ferry flight from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Koepang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies. When the flight arrived at Darwin, and before refueling could be effected, information of the approach of an enemy formation was received. When the approaching enemy, consisting of approximately sixty high-level bombers, thirty-six fighters and eighteen dive-bombers was intercepted, Lieutenant Peres, in spite of the tremendous odds, courageously attacked the enemy formation, inflicting heavy damage, and continued the attack until his airplane was shot down. Second Lieutenant Peres' unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.( Military Hall of Honour 2019)
In a letter to the US War office on the 14th June 1943 John Peres, Jack's dad John Peres wrote a letter to request the return of his son's possessions.
Adjutant General (Name Withheld)
US War Dept.
Dear Sir,
I am writing you again re: the personal effects of my son Lt. Jack.R. Peres 0-416707 who was killed in action in Australia Feb 19 1942
On October 8th 1942 you wrote me stating he had all his belongings with him in his plane, but I am sure he had a trunk in which he should have had a 16mm camera, an album which is very dear to me and since his body was found, should we not receive his watch & identification tag. The watch was a present to him on his graduation from H.S.
He was awarded the D.S.C. & Purple Heart (Posthumously) which were presented to me on Apr 20th. Please advise if I am permitted to wear these on any & what occasions in his honour- Trusting I may have a reply soon, I Remain Loyally.
John A. Peres
(Address withheld)
Source-(Biegel Bill 2005)
In 1989 Bob Alford visited the site and again in 1993 at the request of the Tree Point community to remove the wreckage. The main parts including tail and engine were among others taken and put in storage with the Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory (AHSNT) and some eventual display at the Darwin Aviation Museum.
References
The Alford Collection, Bob Alford
Biegel Bill 2015, 2nd LT Jack R. Peres, of the 21st Pursuit Squadron, https://www.facebook.com/WW2Researcher/photos/a.377784565674527/716762985110015/?type=3&theater
Military Hall of Honour 2019, 2LT Jack R. Peres, https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=315458