JOHN WHITIN LASELL
(pronounced: "La-Sell")
1897-1943
Killed In Action WWII at age 46
John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field on Linwood Ave is named in his honor.
The field is under the "care, custody, and control of the Northbridge School Committee."
Born: November 30, 1897 Whitinsville, MA
Died: December 1, 1943, Killed In Action, WWII, Burma
Spouse: Frances (Sumner) Lasell (1899 – 1996)
Parents: Josiah M. and Mary F. (Krum)
Educated: Hotchkiss School, CT; Williams College 1920.
Served: WWI
Served: WWII
U.S. Army Captain
Northbridge Selectman: 1925
Commissioner, Mt. Wachusett State Reservation: 1929
Northbridge Retirement Board
Massachusetts State Representative: 1933-1940
Purgatory State Reservation Commission: 1940s
Organizations: Masons, Knights of Phythias, American Legion
Killed in Action WWII; Dec. 1, 1943
Burial: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Saint Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
Plot: SECTION 79 SITE 449C-E
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is an American military cemetery located in on the banks of the Mississippi River. The cemetery was established after the American Civil War in an attempt to put together a formal network of military cemeteries.
John Whitin Lasell was born in 1897, one of seven children born to Josiah M. Lasell and Mary Frances (Krum) Lasell.
John Whitin Lasell’s family was part of the extended Whitin family for whom the village of Whitinsville is named.
In the town’s formative years, the Whitins built a manufacturing empire based in Northbridge and were major benefactors and donors to the town.
WHITIN-LASELL HIGH SCHOOL
John Whitin Lasell's father, Josiah and Arthur Fletcher Whitin, donated more than $60,000 to the Whitin-Lasell High School (now the Middle School on Linwood Ave) in honor of Mr. William Halliday Whitin and Mr. Josiah Lasell, who labored untiringly many years for the advancement of the schools. The brick school was erected in 1906.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Unlike many Whitin progeny, rather than work in the family business, John Whitin Lasell gravitated instead to a career of public service. Said to be extremely popular with the townspeople of Whitinsville, John Whitin Lasell was elected town selectman, then state representative, and rose to the rank of Captain in the United State Army.
WWI
In the summer of 1916 he attended the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg. He enlisted at Minneola, FL on August 22, 1917. He trained at M.I.T. Ground School, September 29,1917 to November 24, 1917; and at Love Field, Dallas Texas from November 28, 1917 to February 23, 1818.
He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant February 16, 1918 and trained at:
-Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, Feb 23 to March 18, 1918
-Post Field, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, March 19 to April 15, 1918
-Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, April 16 to June 29, 1918
-Taliaferro Field, Forth Worth, Texas, June 30 to July 31, 1918
Lieutenant Lasell sailed overseas on August 9, 1918 and was stationed at St. Maxient, France; at Issoudun 3rd Aviation Instruction Centre; and at Antreville. He was then ordered to Saizerais in the Marbache sector. He was stationed at Tours and at Bordeaux. He sailed for home on Dec. 26, 1918 arriving in the U.S. on January 7, 1919.
His brother Josiah 2d also served in WWI: Captain, C.O. 302d Hq. Co., 16th Division.
WWII
He felt a moral obligation to volunteer his services to the United State Army Air Force as an Observer in World War II.
Captain Lasell was flying as an observer on B-24J #42-73159, nicknamed 'Tough Baba', serving with the 10th Air Force. They were part of a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission to Insein, Burma, near Rangoon. Fierce enemy opposition of anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes was encountered. Before reaching the target the plane was hit by A-A and the right wing was smoking badly as the ship dropped and slid off in a banking turn to the right. Between eight and ten enemy fighters began attacking the disabled ship. The plane dropped about 3,000-6,000 feet before bursting into flames and exploding. He was killed in action on December 1, 1943.
Resolution Adopted by Northbridge Board of Selectmen
On December 17, 1945 the Northbridge Board of Selectmen adopted a Resolution on the death of Captain John W. Lasell that noted his service to town, state and country, and concluded:
“Greater love than this no man has, that
a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field
The John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field, commonly known as Lasell Field, is an athletic field located at the now Northbridge Middle School on Linwood Avenue. Lasell Field occupies a portion of a 13 acre parcel of land purchased by the Town of Northbridge from the estate of Arthur F. Whitin in 1930 for the sum of $6,000.
Lasell Memorial Field is not under the charge of the Northbridge Board of Trustees of Soldiers', Sailors' and Marines' Memorials. The Board of Trustees does not have custody and care of the Field.
Instead, by Chapter 25 of the Acts of 1981, the Massachusetts legislature transferred the care, custody and control of the John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field to the Northbridge School Committee. Northbridge Town Bylaw 2-303 requires the field to be known as the "John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field".
compiled by: S.J.Buma [email protected], updated April 2019
Notes:
1. Navin, Thomas R., The Whitin Machine Works since 1831: A Textile Machinery Company in an Industrial Village (Harvard University Press, 1950), pp 413-414.
2. New England Aviators 1914-1918: Their Portraits and Their Records, Volume 1 edited by Caroline Ticknor.
3. Illustrated Souvenir of Whitinsville, Massachusetts Eagle Printing Company, 1908 - Whitinsville, MA.
(pronounced: "La-Sell")
1897-1943
Killed In Action WWII at age 46
John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field on Linwood Ave is named in his honor.
The field is under the "care, custody, and control of the Northbridge School Committee."
Born: November 30, 1897 Whitinsville, MA
Died: December 1, 1943, Killed In Action, WWII, Burma
Spouse: Frances (Sumner) Lasell (1899 – 1996)
Parents: Josiah M. and Mary F. (Krum)
Educated: Hotchkiss School, CT; Williams College 1920.
Served: WWI
Served: WWII
U.S. Army Captain
Northbridge Selectman: 1925
Commissioner, Mt. Wachusett State Reservation: 1929
Northbridge Retirement Board
Massachusetts State Representative: 1933-1940
Purgatory State Reservation Commission: 1940s
Organizations: Masons, Knights of Phythias, American Legion
Killed in Action WWII; Dec. 1, 1943
Burial: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Saint Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA
Plot: SECTION 79 SITE 449C-E
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is an American military cemetery located in on the banks of the Mississippi River. The cemetery was established after the American Civil War in an attempt to put together a formal network of military cemeteries.
John Whitin Lasell was born in 1897, one of seven children born to Josiah M. Lasell and Mary Frances (Krum) Lasell.
John Whitin Lasell’s family was part of the extended Whitin family for whom the village of Whitinsville is named.
In the town’s formative years, the Whitins built a manufacturing empire based in Northbridge and were major benefactors and donors to the town.
WHITIN-LASELL HIGH SCHOOL
John Whitin Lasell's father, Josiah and Arthur Fletcher Whitin, donated more than $60,000 to the Whitin-Lasell High School (now the Middle School on Linwood Ave) in honor of Mr. William Halliday Whitin and Mr. Josiah Lasell, who labored untiringly many years for the advancement of the schools. The brick school was erected in 1906.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Unlike many Whitin progeny, rather than work in the family business, John Whitin Lasell gravitated instead to a career of public service. Said to be extremely popular with the townspeople of Whitinsville, John Whitin Lasell was elected town selectman, then state representative, and rose to the rank of Captain in the United State Army.
WWI
In the summer of 1916 he attended the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg. He enlisted at Minneola, FL on August 22, 1917. He trained at M.I.T. Ground School, September 29,1917 to November 24, 1917; and at Love Field, Dallas Texas from November 28, 1917 to February 23, 1818.
He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant February 16, 1918 and trained at:
-Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, Feb 23 to March 18, 1918
-Post Field, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, March 19 to April 15, 1918
-Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, April 16 to June 29, 1918
-Taliaferro Field, Forth Worth, Texas, June 30 to July 31, 1918
Lieutenant Lasell sailed overseas on August 9, 1918 and was stationed at St. Maxient, France; at Issoudun 3rd Aviation Instruction Centre; and at Antreville. He was then ordered to Saizerais in the Marbache sector. He was stationed at Tours and at Bordeaux. He sailed for home on Dec. 26, 1918 arriving in the U.S. on January 7, 1919.
His brother Josiah 2d also served in WWI: Captain, C.O. 302d Hq. Co., 16th Division.
WWII
He felt a moral obligation to volunteer his services to the United State Army Air Force as an Observer in World War II.
Captain Lasell was flying as an observer on B-24J #42-73159, nicknamed 'Tough Baba', serving with the 10th Air Force. They were part of a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission to Insein, Burma, near Rangoon. Fierce enemy opposition of anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes was encountered. Before reaching the target the plane was hit by A-A and the right wing was smoking badly as the ship dropped and slid off in a banking turn to the right. Between eight and ten enemy fighters began attacking the disabled ship. The plane dropped about 3,000-6,000 feet before bursting into flames and exploding. He was killed in action on December 1, 1943.
Resolution Adopted by Northbridge Board of Selectmen
On December 17, 1945 the Northbridge Board of Selectmen adopted a Resolution on the death of Captain John W. Lasell that noted his service to town, state and country, and concluded:
“Greater love than this no man has, that
a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field
The John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field, commonly known as Lasell Field, is an athletic field located at the now Northbridge Middle School on Linwood Avenue. Lasell Field occupies a portion of a 13 acre parcel of land purchased by the Town of Northbridge from the estate of Arthur F. Whitin in 1930 for the sum of $6,000.
Lasell Memorial Field is not under the charge of the Northbridge Board of Trustees of Soldiers', Sailors' and Marines' Memorials. The Board of Trustees does not have custody and care of the Field.
Instead, by Chapter 25 of the Acts of 1981, the Massachusetts legislature transferred the care, custody and control of the John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field to the Northbridge School Committee. Northbridge Town Bylaw 2-303 requires the field to be known as the "John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field".
compiled by: S.J.Buma [email protected], updated April 2019
Notes:
1. Navin, Thomas R., The Whitin Machine Works since 1831: A Textile Machinery Company in an Industrial Village (Harvard University Press, 1950), pp 413-414.
2. New England Aviators 1914-1918: Their Portraits and Their Records, Volume 1 edited by Caroline Ticknor.
3. Illustrated Souvenir of Whitinsville, Massachusetts Eagle Printing Company, 1908 - Whitinsville, MA.
Capt. John Whitin Lasell
John Whitin Lasell
John Whitin Lasell Memorial Field
1906 Whitin-Lasell High School
now the Middle School on Linwood Avenue
