Funeral services for Tech. Sgt. Wm. T. Freeland were held in the Brook U. B. Church on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Pellet officiating. Burial was made in Riverside cemetery. Military services at the cemetery were in charge of the Brook and Goodland American Legion Posts. The Color Guard and Firing Squad was composed of members of the Goodland Post and the Pall Bearers were from the Brook Post.
Tommy was killed while substituting on a flight for another radio operator who was ill. The plane, a big four-motor flying fortress, had been in air only a short time when the crash occurred. The air field operator had been talking to Tommy in the plane only a short time before the accident. Just what happened is not known.
Only a short time ago Tommy refused a promotion to Master Sergeant because this would make him an instructor and would keep him from flying.
William Thomas Freeland, son of Thomas and Louise Freeland, was born on a farm near Mondova, Wisconsin, February 15, 1918. When about five years of age the father with five children came to Brook, Indiana where they made their home with his sister, Mrs. Ellen Dowty for a period of two years, after which the little family established their own home.
In the year 1928 the father met with an accident which caused his death. At this time Thomas with the other children returned to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Dowty, where they continued until 1933 when because of ill health, the aunt found it necessary to give up her home. Following this incident, Thomas went to the home of his cousin, Earle Dowty in Goodland, where he remained until his induction into the United States Army.
His grade and High School education was received in Brook except for the Junior and Senior years which were in Goodland where he graduated as an Honor Student in 1935. When a lad he was converted and became a member of the Central United Brethren Church in Brook.
On February 23, 1942 he entered the United States Army where he advanced rapidly. He took special interest in Radio from the outset and later entered the Air Corps, and advanced to the rating of Technical Sergeant, recently refusing further advancement to Master of Sergeants because he desired to continue flying. While in transfer from Texas to Washington, Feb. 27-Mar. 3, he spent a few days at home visiting friends in Brook and Goodland.
His untimely death came as a result of an accident which engaged in routine flying near Ephrata, Washington on Monday Morning, March 29, 1943 at 3:00 o'clock Pacific War Time. He had taken the place of the radio operator of another crew who was ill. He expected to go over seas in the near future.
He leaves his mother and three brothers, Lawrence, of Brook, Ind., Albert, of California, who is in the U.S. Navy, and Harry, of Chintoteague, Virginia, who is in the U.S. Army.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Apr. 8, 1943, Page 1∼Technical Sergeant Freeland served with the 590th Bomb Squadron, 395th Bomb Group, aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5313. He was the Radio Operator and one of eleven airmen killed when the bomber crashed five miles northeast of the Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.
Killed in service were:
2nd Lt. Marvin R Furch, Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph J Whalen, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. James A Calnon, Observer-Passenger
S/Sgt. John G Bowen, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Joseph E Brielman, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Harold W Bunce, Gunner
T/Sgt. William T Freeland, Radio Operator
Sgt. Abraham Kaden, Passenger
S/Sgt. Harold L Mason, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Jack D Naus, Passenger
T/Sgt. Herman E Stephens, Asst. Engineer
Investigators could not determine why the aircraft flew into terrain at about 03:10 hours while returning from a nighttime navigational training mission. Another B-17 bomber also crashed during this same mission (but the accidents were unrelated).
~
Entered the service from Indiana; Newton County; ASN 35259813.
Enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, February 20, 1942.
Tommy was killed while substituting on a flight for another radio operator who was ill. The plane, a big four-motor flying fortress, had been in air only a short time when the crash occurred. The air field operator had been talking to Tommy in the plane only a short time before the accident. Just what happened is not known.
Only a short time ago Tommy refused a promotion to Master Sergeant because this would make him an instructor and would keep him from flying.
William Thomas Freeland, son of Thomas and Louise Freeland, was born on a farm near Mondova, Wisconsin, February 15, 1918. When about five years of age the father with five children came to Brook, Indiana where they made their home with his sister, Mrs. Ellen Dowty for a period of two years, after which the little family established their own home.
In the year 1928 the father met with an accident which caused his death. At this time Thomas with the other children returned to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Dowty, where they continued until 1933 when because of ill health, the aunt found it necessary to give up her home. Following this incident, Thomas went to the home of his cousin, Earle Dowty in Goodland, where he remained until his induction into the United States Army.
His grade and High School education was received in Brook except for the Junior and Senior years which were in Goodland where he graduated as an Honor Student in 1935. When a lad he was converted and became a member of the Central United Brethren Church in Brook.
On February 23, 1942 he entered the United States Army where he advanced rapidly. He took special interest in Radio from the outset and later entered the Air Corps, and advanced to the rating of Technical Sergeant, recently refusing further advancement to Master of Sergeants because he desired to continue flying. While in transfer from Texas to Washington, Feb. 27-Mar. 3, he spent a few days at home visiting friends in Brook and Goodland.
His untimely death came as a result of an accident which engaged in routine flying near Ephrata, Washington on Monday Morning, March 29, 1943 at 3:00 o'clock Pacific War Time. He had taken the place of the radio operator of another crew who was ill. He expected to go over seas in the near future.
He leaves his mother and three brothers, Lawrence, of Brook, Ind., Albert, of California, who is in the U.S. Navy, and Harry, of Chintoteague, Virginia, who is in the U.S. Army.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Apr. 8, 1943, Page 1∼Technical Sergeant Freeland served with the 590th Bomb Squadron, 395th Bomb Group, aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5313. He was the Radio Operator and one of eleven airmen killed when the bomber crashed five miles northeast of the Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.
Killed in service were:
2nd Lt. Marvin R Furch, Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph J Whalen, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. James A Calnon, Observer-Passenger
S/Sgt. John G Bowen, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Joseph E Brielman, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Harold W Bunce, Gunner
T/Sgt. William T Freeland, Radio Operator
Sgt. Abraham Kaden, Passenger
S/Sgt. Harold L Mason, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Jack D Naus, Passenger
T/Sgt. Herman E Stephens, Asst. Engineer
Investigators could not determine why the aircraft flew into terrain at about 03:10 hours while returning from a nighttime navigational training mission. Another B-17 bomber also crashed during this same mission (but the accidents were unrelated).
~
Entered the service from Indiana; Newton County; ASN 35259813.
Enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, February 20, 1942.
Funeral services for Tech. Sgt. Wm. T. Freeland were held in the Brook U. B. Church on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Pellet officiating. Burial was made in Riverside cemetery. Military services at the cemetery were in charge of the Brook and Goodland American Legion Posts. The Color Guard and Firing Squad was composed of members of the Goodland Post and the Pall Bearers were from the Brook Post.
Tommy was killed while substituting on a flight for another radio operator who was ill. The plane, a big four-motor flying fortress, had been in air only a short time when the crash occurred. The air field operator had been talking to Tommy in the plane only a short time before the accident. Just what happened is not known.
Only a short time ago Tommy refused a promotion to Master Sergeant because this would make him an instructor and would keep him from flying.
William Thomas Freeland, son of Thomas and Louise Freeland, was born on a farm near Mondova, Wisconsin, February 15, 1918. When about five years of age the father with five children came to Brook, Indiana where they made their home with his sister, Mrs. Ellen Dowty for a period of two years, after which the little family established their own home.
In the year 1928 the father met with an accident which caused his death. At this time Thomas with the other children returned to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Dowty, where they continued until 1933 when because of ill health, the aunt found it necessary to give up her home. Following this incident, Thomas went to the home of his cousin, Earle Dowty in Goodland, where he remained until his induction into the United States Army.
His grade and High School education was received in Brook except for the Junior and Senior years which were in Goodland where he graduated as an Honor Student in 1935. When a lad he was converted and became a member of the Central United Brethren Church in Brook.
On February 23, 1942 he entered the United States Army where he advanced rapidly. He took special interest in Radio from the outset and later entered the Air Corps, and advanced to the rating of Technical Sergeant, recently refusing further advancement to Master of Sergeants because he desired to continue flying. While in transfer from Texas to Washington, Feb. 27-Mar. 3, he spent a few days at home visiting friends in Brook and Goodland.
His untimely death came as a result of an accident which engaged in routine flying near Ephrata, Washington on Monday Morning, March 29, 1943 at 3:00 o'clock Pacific War Time. He had taken the place of the radio operator of another crew who was ill. He expected to go over seas in the near future.
He leaves his mother and three brothers, Lawrence, of Brook, Ind., Albert, of California, who is in the U.S. Navy, and Harry, of Chintoteague, Virginia, who is in the U.S. Army.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Apr. 8, 1943, Page 1∼Technical Sergeant Freeland served with the 590th Bomb Squadron, 395th Bomb Group, aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5313. He was the Radio Operator and one of eleven airmen killed when the bomber crashed five miles northeast of the Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.
Killed in service were:
2nd Lt. Marvin R Furch, Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph J Whalen, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. James A Calnon, Observer-Passenger
S/Sgt. John G Bowen, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Joseph E Brielman, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Harold W Bunce, Gunner
T/Sgt. William T Freeland, Radio Operator
Sgt. Abraham Kaden, Passenger
S/Sgt. Harold L Mason, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Jack D Naus, Passenger
T/Sgt. Herman E Stephens, Asst. Engineer
Investigators could not determine why the aircraft flew into terrain at about 03:10 hours while returning from a nighttime navigational training mission. Another B-17 bomber also crashed during this same mission (but the accidents were unrelated).
~
Entered the service from Indiana; Newton County; ASN 35259813.
Enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, February 20, 1942.
Tommy was killed while substituting on a flight for another radio operator who was ill. The plane, a big four-motor flying fortress, had been in air only a short time when the crash occurred. The air field operator had been talking to Tommy in the plane only a short time before the accident. Just what happened is not known.
Only a short time ago Tommy refused a promotion to Master Sergeant because this would make him an instructor and would keep him from flying.
William Thomas Freeland, son of Thomas and Louise Freeland, was born on a farm near Mondova, Wisconsin, February 15, 1918. When about five years of age the father with five children came to Brook, Indiana where they made their home with his sister, Mrs. Ellen Dowty for a period of two years, after which the little family established their own home.
In the year 1928 the father met with an accident which caused his death. At this time Thomas with the other children returned to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Dowty, where they continued until 1933 when because of ill health, the aunt found it necessary to give up her home. Following this incident, Thomas went to the home of his cousin, Earle Dowty in Goodland, where he remained until his induction into the United States Army.
His grade and High School education was received in Brook except for the Junior and Senior years which were in Goodland where he graduated as an Honor Student in 1935. When a lad he was converted and became a member of the Central United Brethren Church in Brook.
On February 23, 1942 he entered the United States Army where he advanced rapidly. He took special interest in Radio from the outset and later entered the Air Corps, and advanced to the rating of Technical Sergeant, recently refusing further advancement to Master of Sergeants because he desired to continue flying. While in transfer from Texas to Washington, Feb. 27-Mar. 3, he spent a few days at home visiting friends in Brook and Goodland.
His untimely death came as a result of an accident which engaged in routine flying near Ephrata, Washington on Monday Morning, March 29, 1943 at 3:00 o'clock Pacific War Time. He had taken the place of the radio operator of another crew who was ill. He expected to go over seas in the near future.
He leaves his mother and three brothers, Lawrence, of Brook, Ind., Albert, of California, who is in the U.S. Navy, and Harry, of Chintoteague, Virginia, who is in the U.S. Army.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Apr. 8, 1943, Page 1∼Technical Sergeant Freeland served with the 590th Bomb Squadron, 395th Bomb Group, aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5313. He was the Radio Operator and one of eleven airmen killed when the bomber crashed five miles northeast of the Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.
Killed in service were:
2nd Lt. Marvin R Furch, Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph J Whalen, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. James A Calnon, Observer-Passenger
S/Sgt. John G Bowen, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Joseph E Brielman, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Harold W Bunce, Gunner
T/Sgt. William T Freeland, Radio Operator
Sgt. Abraham Kaden, Passenger
S/Sgt. Harold L Mason, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Jack D Naus, Passenger
T/Sgt. Herman E Stephens, Asst. Engineer
Investigators could not determine why the aircraft flew into terrain at about 03:10 hours while returning from a nighttime navigational training mission. Another B-17 bomber also crashed during this same mission (but the accidents were unrelated).
~
Entered the service from Indiana; Newton County; ASN 35259813.
Enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, February 20, 1942.
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