Seymour Mazer in June, 1942.
1st Lt. Seymour Mazer was born on January 7, 1922 to Joseph and Mollie Mazer as their first child in the Bronx, NY. Later his family added a younger brother Jerome. Seymour graduated from Dewitt Clinton High School and married Claire Kellerman in 1942. They had two children, Robert (USMC), and Mark. Their father Joseph had immigrated to the US from Russia.
Seymour enlisted on December 22, 1941, just days after Pearl Harbor, and graduated from The Army Air Forces Navigation School at Selman Field, Monroe Louisiana, on December 5, 1942, Class 42-16, and flew from Miami to Calcutta, via the Middle East, on or about August 24, 1944 to join his unit, eventually in China. Lt. Mazer served in the 491st Bomb Squadron, 341st Bombardment Group. He shows up on crew lists for the 491st Bomb Squadron for at least these missions: D-088, 1 Oct 44; D-090, 2 Oct 44; D-091, 3 Oct 44; D-092, 4 Oct 44; D-094, 5 Oct 44; D-099, 20 Oct 44; D-102, 26 Oct 44; C-231, 11 Nov 44; C-232, 11 Nov 44; C-243, 27 Nov 43; C-245, 28 Nov 44; C-260, 23 Dec 44. During that time he must have been injured as he received the Purple Heart during this period.
Lt. Mazer departed Kunming on or about April 1, 1945 to return to the US, arriving stateside about 15 days later.
Lt. Mazer was initially released from active duty on January 12, 1947. However, he apparently was posted to Asia or had military trips to Asia between the end of the war and his release (or before April 1, 1948), visiting the Philippines, Mainland Japan and Okinawa, and various American-held islands on his route over the Pacific.
On his Report of Separation from 1947, for campaigns is listed China Offensives, India Burma, and Air Offensive Japan. In addition to the Purple Heart, Lt. Mazer also received the American Theater Services Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Asiatic Pacific Services Medal, Air Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge WDGO 92/42.
Lt. Mazer rejoined the Air Force at some later date, and was killed, along with 1st Lt. William C. Wilson, and 1st Lt. Delbert L. Clouser, in their RB-26 (or B-26) reconnaissance plane during a night training mission while on landing approach in the 4426th Reconnaissance Crew Training Squadron, 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, out of Shaw Air Force Base (or sometimes recorded as Sumpter Air Force Base), South Carolina, on April 2, 1952 in preparation for subsequent combat duty in Korea. 1st Lt. Mazer is interred at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Fairfield, NJ.
(Thanks for info from Mark Mazer, and additional info from Tony Strotman, and online sources.)
