Served with the 3rd Training Squadron, B-17F Flying Fortress #42-6031 collided mid air with B-17F #42-4621 over the Gulf of Mexico, 45 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, while on a training flight out of the Alexandria, Louisiana Army Airfield. Twenty-one other Army service members also perished. No wreckage was found and no bodies were recovered.
~
On a postcard he sent to his mother...Ora Belle Stahlman Royer (John Heenen, John L., John S., John). The Postcard is titled "Harlingen Army Gunnery School, Harlingen Texas", and reads: "In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, aerial gunners are trained as key men in a famous "Four Flying Horsemen" team--pilot, navigator, bombardier and gunner. They receive their silver air crew wings on graduation." It was sent by PVT. Richard Royer, 3rd Training Sqd, Harlingen, Texas, postmarked Harlingen April 2, 1943. He wrote:
"Dear Mom: Maybe this will give you an idea of what I'm doing here in Texas. The first picture at the top left shows a gunner in the air ready for action. Top right shows them after a flight bringing their guns from the plane. Left lower shows planes in formation. Lower right - firing at night with tracer bullets. This is all interesting and maybe some day we'll take care of some Japs this way.
Your son "Dick"
~
Killed when U.S. Army Air Corps B-17F Flying Fortress #42-6031 collided mid air with B-17F #42-4621 over the Gulf of Mexico, 45 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, while on a training flight out of the Alexandria, Louisiana, Army Airfield. Twenty-one other Army service members also perished.
Lost in Air Crash in Gulf of Mexico:
Capt. Henry A Lewis
1Lt. Robert H Smith
2Lt. Paul Bradnan
2Lt. George J Long
2Lt. Alva W Redding
2Lt. Oscar L Koegel
2Lt. Oscar A. Bennett
2Lt. James J Palack
2Lt. Stevenson A Williams
SSgt. John E Linam
Sgt. John F Arrillaga
Sgt. Joe T Barron
Sgt. Howard J Code
Sgt. William B Culp
Sgt. John T Loften
Sgt. Jack L Stewart
Sgt. William P Pine
Sgt. Reinhold Kubarth
Sgt. William W Volkmer
Sgt. Richard E Royer
Sgt. Billie J Smith
Sgt. Charles L Findley
Served with the 3rd Training Squadron, B-17F Flying Fortress #42-6031 collided mid air with B-17F #42-4621 over the Gulf of Mexico, 45 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, while on a training flight out of the Alexandria, Louisiana Army Airfield. Twenty-one other Army service members also perished. No wreckage was found and no bodies were recovered.
~
On a postcard he sent to his mother...Ora Belle Stahlman Royer (John Heenen, John L., John S., John). The Postcard is titled "Harlingen Army Gunnery School, Harlingen Texas", and reads: "In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, aerial gunners are trained as key men in a famous "Four Flying Horsemen" team--pilot, navigator, bombardier and gunner. They receive their silver air crew wings on graduation." It was sent by PVT. Richard Royer, 3rd Training Sqd, Harlingen, Texas, postmarked Harlingen April 2, 1943. He wrote:
"Dear Mom: Maybe this will give you an idea of what I'm doing here in Texas. The first picture at the top left shows a gunner in the air ready for action. Top right shows them after a flight bringing their guns from the plane. Left lower shows planes in formation. Lower right - firing at night with tracer bullets. This is all interesting and maybe some day we'll take care of some Japs this way.
Your son "Dick"
~
Killed when U.S. Army Air Corps B-17F Flying Fortress #42-6031 collided mid air with B-17F #42-4621 over the Gulf of Mexico, 45 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, while on a training flight out of the Alexandria, Louisiana, Army Airfield. Twenty-one other Army service members also perished.
Lost in Air Crash in Gulf of Mexico:
Capt. Henry A Lewis
1Lt. Robert H Smith
2Lt. Paul Bradnan
2Lt. George J Long
2Lt. Alva W Redding
2Lt. Oscar L Koegel
2Lt. Oscar A. Bennett
2Lt. James J Palack
2Lt. Stevenson A Williams
SSgt. John E Linam
Sgt. John F Arrillaga
Sgt. Joe T Barron
Sgt. Howard J Code
Sgt. William B Culp
Sgt. John T Loften
Sgt. Jack L Stewart
Sgt. William P Pine
Sgt. Reinhold Kubarth
Sgt. William W Volkmer
Sgt. Richard E Royer
Sgt. Billie J Smith
Sgt. Charles L Findley
Inscription
In Memoriam
These Men of Kane and Vicinity Gave Their Lives for Their Country in World War II
Gravesite Details
Buried at sea. Body never recovered.
Family Members
Other Records
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