Died during World war II non Battle from Otoe County Nebraska
Sergeant Slinker was an
assistant Engineer aboard B-17F
Flying Fortress #42-5197, serving with the
339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group
from the Pocatello Army Airfield, Idaho.
During an evening navigational training
flight, the bomber flew through stormy winter
clouds and fog. Coming out of cloud cover,
the pilots realized they were on a collision
course with the 8,500-foot Wasatch mountain
range, and made a sudden, steep climb. But
the plane stalled, rolled over and plunged
to earth in a near-vertical dive.
It disintegrated upon impact, killing all
ten airmen aboard instantly. The wreck site
was not located for two days. It was found
about thirteen miles south of Soda Springs,
in a heavily forested area of Eight Mile Canyon.
Full recovery was not possible due to heavy
snowfall, and not completed until the spring
of 1943.
The airmen lost on the flight were:
2nd Lt. Harold K Simpson, pilot
2nd Lt. Wendell L Sims, co-pilot
2nd Lt. Chalmers G Wenrich, bombadier
2nd Lt. Thomas J Wymond, navigator
S/Sgt. John E Lazansky, radio operator
Sgt. Neal L Slinker, asst. engineer
Cpl. Charles L Walker, Jr, engineer
PFC Nicholas M. Zompetti, asst. radio operator
Pvt. Joseph R Hughes, gunner
Pvt. Donald W Seaney, gunner
Many thanks to Tim Cook for providing this Information!
Sergeant Slinker was an
assistant Engineer aboard B-17F
Flying Fortress #42-5197, serving with the
339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group
from the Pocatello Army Airfield, Idaho.
During an evening navigational training
flight, the bomber flew through stormy winter
clouds and fog. Coming out of cloud cover,
the pilots realized they were on a collision
course with the 8,500-foot Wasatch mountain
range, and made a sudden, steep climb. But
the plane stalled, rolled over and plunged
to earth in a near-vertical dive.
It disintegrated upon impact, killing all
ten airmen aboard instantly. The wreck site
was not located for two days. It was found
about thirteen miles south of Soda Springs,
in a heavily forested area of Eight Mile Canyon.
Full recovery was not possible due to heavy
snowfall, and not completed until the spring
of 1943.
The airmen lost on the flight were:
2nd Lt. Harold K Simpson, pilot
2nd Lt. Wendell L Sims, co-pilot
2nd Lt. Chalmers G Wenrich, bombadier
2nd Lt. Thomas J Wymond, navigator
S/Sgt. John E Lazansky, radio operator
Sgt. Neal L Slinker, asst. engineer
Cpl. Charles L Walker, Jr, engineer
PFC Nicholas M. Zompetti, asst. radio operator
Pvt. Joseph R Hughes, gunner
Pvt. Donald W Seaney, gunner
Many thanks to Tim Cook for providing this Information!
Died during World war II non Battle from Otoe County Nebraska
Sergeant Slinker was an
assistant Engineer aboard B-17F
Flying Fortress #42-5197, serving with the
339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group
from the Pocatello Army Airfield, Idaho.
During an evening navigational training
flight, the bomber flew through stormy winter
clouds and fog. Coming out of cloud cover,
the pilots realized they were on a collision
course with the 8,500-foot Wasatch mountain
range, and made a sudden, steep climb. But
the plane stalled, rolled over and plunged
to earth in a near-vertical dive.
It disintegrated upon impact, killing all
ten airmen aboard instantly. The wreck site
was not located for two days. It was found
about thirteen miles south of Soda Springs,
in a heavily forested area of Eight Mile Canyon.
Full recovery was not possible due to heavy
snowfall, and not completed until the spring
of 1943.
The airmen lost on the flight were:
2nd Lt. Harold K Simpson, pilot
2nd Lt. Wendell L Sims, co-pilot
2nd Lt. Chalmers G Wenrich, bombadier
2nd Lt. Thomas J Wymond, navigator
S/Sgt. John E Lazansky, radio operator
Sgt. Neal L Slinker, asst. engineer
Cpl. Charles L Walker, Jr, engineer
PFC Nicholas M. Zompetti, asst. radio operator
Pvt. Joseph R Hughes, gunner
Pvt. Donald W Seaney, gunner
Many thanks to Tim Cook for providing this Information!
Sergeant Slinker was an
assistant Engineer aboard B-17F
Flying Fortress #42-5197, serving with the
339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group
from the Pocatello Army Airfield, Idaho.
During an evening navigational training
flight, the bomber flew through stormy winter
clouds and fog. Coming out of cloud cover,
the pilots realized they were on a collision
course with the 8,500-foot Wasatch mountain
range, and made a sudden, steep climb. But
the plane stalled, rolled over and plunged
to earth in a near-vertical dive.
It disintegrated upon impact, killing all
ten airmen aboard instantly. The wreck site
was not located for two days. It was found
about thirteen miles south of Soda Springs,
in a heavily forested area of Eight Mile Canyon.
Full recovery was not possible due to heavy
snowfall, and not completed until the spring
of 1943.
The airmen lost on the flight were:
2nd Lt. Harold K Simpson, pilot
2nd Lt. Wendell L Sims, co-pilot
2nd Lt. Chalmers G Wenrich, bombadier
2nd Lt. Thomas J Wymond, navigator
S/Sgt. John E Lazansky, radio operator
Sgt. Neal L Slinker, asst. engineer
Cpl. Charles L Walker, Jr, engineer
PFC Nicholas M. Zompetti, asst. radio operator
Pvt. Joseph R Hughes, gunner
Pvt. Donald W Seaney, gunner
Many thanks to Tim Cook for providing this Information!
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