George Michael Colarich

2021-03-23T15:46:18-05:00
Army Badge
  • Name: George Michael Colarich
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: April 18, 1914
  • Date of Death: January 5, 1991
  • Parents: Sam Colarich & Mary (Verbon) Colarich
  • High School and Class: 1932 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College: Itasca Junior College, Coleraine, MN - Class of 1934
    1939 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Highest Rank: CAPTAIN
  • Branch: ArmyAir Force
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: April 17, 1941
  • Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Date of Discharge: 1947
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: George Michael Colarich
    Race: White
    Age: 26
    Birth Date: April 18, 1914
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: October 16, 1940
    Employer: Cudahy Packing Co., Newport, Washington, Minnesota
    Weight: 175
    Height: 5-11
    Complexion: Dark
    Eye Color: Hazel
    Hair Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: Sam G. Colarich, father, Coleraine, Minnesota

    WW II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
    Name: George M. Colarich
    Birth Year: 1914
    Race: White
    Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
    State of Residence: Minnesota
    County or City: Hennepin
    Enlistment Date: April 17, 1941
    Enlistment State: Minnesota
    Enlistment City: Fort Snelling
    Branch: Air Corps
    Branch Code: Air Corps
    Grade Code: Aviation Cadet
    Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
    Source: Civil Life
    Education: 4 years of college
    Civil Occupation: Engineers, mining
    Marital status: Single, without dependents
    Height: 70
    Weight: 168

    Newspaper article: Itasca Iron News, Coleraine, Minnesota - 4 Mar 1943 – From New Delhi in India comes an Associated Press news dispatch carried this week in daily papers that Lt. Geo. Colarich of Coleraine was among the American fliers who shot down Japanese planes over northwest India. Colarich was one of 15 American pilots who took part in smashing the Japanese air raid of last Thursday, in which 28 enemy aircraft were destroyed. The dispatch says that probably more fliers will be credited with destruction of planes when the wrecks of the aircraft are found in the search of the jungles and the hills. The only other name mentioned with that of Colarich was Capt. John Sveningsen of St. Paul. Just last week The Iron news published a letter from Lieut. Colarich, in which he wrote of “dishing it out for a change,” and expressed optimism as to the conclusion of the war. He is the older son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Colarich of Coleraine, and has been in India five months, and abroad for more than a year.

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - March 5, 1943 - "CREDITED WITH JAPANESE PLANE. In a recent news item in the Minneapolis Star, the following article appeared: 'Two Minnesota men were credited with shooting down Japanese planes during a recent enemy raid on an Allied air base in north east India, dispatches from New Lehi reported today. (Monday) They are Cap. John Sveningson, St. Paul and Lt. George M. Colarich, Coleraine. Fifteen American pilots took part in repulsing the raid in which 28 Jap planes were shot down or believed destroyed. About 40 planes took part in this enemy raid.' Geo. Colarich is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Colarich of Coleraine. He graduated from Greenway High School in 1932, from Itasca Junior College in 1934 and then went to the University of Minnesota. In 1941, just six weeks before receiving his Master Degree, he enlisted. He was majoring in History and Music."

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - May 14, 1943 - "Lieut. George Colarich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Colarich of Coleraine, is having quite an experience in India, according to the latest news reports. He was forced to bail out of a P140 for the second time in the past few weeks, and tramped through the jungles over Naga hills, reaching civilization nine days later. He was accompanied into camp by a native who found Colarich two hours after he parachuted into the jungles and followed him into camp as he wanted 'to see where the airplanes sleep'. Geo. was on patrol duty when the engine of his plane failed and he had to bail out. He received a dislocated finger. George Colarich is a Coleraine boy, graduated from Greenway High school, also of the University of Minnesota."

    This note was found on the Find A Grave site for George Colarich: "Engine failed in his P-40, bailed out over Naga hill country, Burma, hiked through the jungle with a Naga Guide 85 miles in 9 days to Assam, India."

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    George Colarich had been a music teacher most of his life. He was active in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Branch of the American Youth Hostel and the Musician’s Union.

    George died in Hollywood, California and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 143). He is survived by one daughter, Susan Provencal; one brother, Paul Colarich; two sisters, Mary Ann (Vernon) Troumbly and Helen Colarich; and one grandson.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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