"Gone west" was an expression among WWI aviators indicating a pilot had been killed. Lieutenant Alford John Bradford went west on July 25, 1918, when his plane was shot down in flames while flying in combat on the Western Front. It would be another four months before his wife, Emily Madeline Cheadle, and parents would learn he had been killed, during which time his wife had given birth to their son, John Cheadle Bradford. One of the best aerial observers of his unit, Alford was awarded the French Croix de Guerre posthumously for his service. Created in 1915, the decoration was bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.
The youngest of four children born to Martin Bradford and Fanny Crooker, Alford was born in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High and earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in 1915. He was employed at the US Land Office in Juneau, Alaska, surveying the Susitna River, at the time of his enlistment. He married nurse Madeline Cheadle in 1917. At the time of their marriage Alford was an instructor at the Officer Training Camps at Vancouver Barracks. Alford went to France with the Field Artillery before transferring to the American Aviation service. Originally buried in France, Alford was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in 1922. (bit.ly/uw_bradford) American Legion Post No. 4 in Juneau is named in honor of Alford John Bradford.
The youngest of four children born to Martin Bradford and Fanny Crooker, Alford was born in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High and earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in 1915. He was employed at the US Land Office in Juneau, Alaska, surveying the Susitna River, at the time of his enlistment. He married nurse Madeline Cheadle in 1917. At the time of their marriage Alford was an instructor at the Officer Training Camps at Vancouver Barracks. Alford went to France with the Field Artillery before transferring to the American Aviation service. Originally buried in France, Alford was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in 1922. (bit.ly/uw_bradford) American Legion Post No. 4 in Juneau is named in honor of Alford John Bradford.
"Gone west" was an expression among WWI aviators indicating a pilot had been killed. Lieutenant Alford John Bradford went west on July 25, 1918, when his plane was shot down in flames while flying in combat on the Western Front. It would be another four months before his wife, Emily Madeline Cheadle, and parents would learn he had been killed, during which time his wife had given birth to their son, John Cheadle Bradford. One of the best aerial observers of his unit, Alford was awarded the French Croix de Guerre posthumously for his service. Created in 1915, the decoration was bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.
The youngest of four children born to Martin Bradford and Fanny Crooker, Alford was born in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High and earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in 1915. He was employed at the US Land Office in Juneau, Alaska, surveying the Susitna River, at the time of his enlistment. He married nurse Madeline Cheadle in 1917. At the time of their marriage Alford was an instructor at the Officer Training Camps at Vancouver Barracks. Alford went to France with the Field Artillery before transferring to the American Aviation service. Originally buried in France, Alford was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in 1922. (bit.ly/uw_bradford) American Legion Post No. 4 in Juneau is named in honor of Alford John Bradford.
The youngest of four children born to Martin Bradford and Fanny Crooker, Alford was born in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High and earned a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in 1915. He was employed at the US Land Office in Juneau, Alaska, surveying the Susitna River, at the time of his enlistment. He married nurse Madeline Cheadle in 1917. At the time of their marriage Alford was an instructor at the Officer Training Camps at Vancouver Barracks. Alford went to France with the Field Artillery before transferring to the American Aviation service. Originally buried in France, Alford was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery in 1922. (bit.ly/uw_bradford) American Legion Post No. 4 in Juneau is named in honor of Alford John Bradford.
Gravesite Details
12th Aero Squadron, World War I
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