Milford Dan Birch was the son of Lester and Edna Koch Birch. He was born on the family farm near Scottsville, KS. He attended the elementary school in Scottsville and graduated with honors from Beloit High School in 1939. Milford was senior class president, Hi-Y president, and took part in the class plays and many other activities.
On Feb. 16, 1942, he enlisted in the US Air Force. Due to his eyesight he was denied combat but was trained for Army-Commercial flight. He received training at Lewis Air Field in Hays, KS and Sheppard Field in Texas and was taking cross country flying at Coffeyville, KS. It was on an instrument training mission that his plane collided with a larger plane. He and his instructor were both killed instantly. Milford lacked three weeks of earning his commission. He had received his pilot's license on Aug. 5, 1942, and radio-telephone operator's permit on Sept. 13, 1943. The accident occurred near Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 26, 1943. Milford's body was returned in a closed casket to the family home and he was buried at the Scottsville cemetery.
On Feb. 16, 1942, he enlisted in the US Air Force. Due to his eyesight he was denied combat but was trained for Army-Commercial flight. He received training at Lewis Air Field in Hays, KS and Sheppard Field in Texas and was taking cross country flying at Coffeyville, KS. It was on an instrument training mission that his plane collided with a larger plane. He and his instructor were both killed instantly. Milford lacked three weeks of earning his commission. He had received his pilot's license on Aug. 5, 1942, and radio-telephone operator's permit on Sept. 13, 1943. The accident occurred near Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 26, 1943. Milford's body was returned in a closed casket to the family home and he was buried at the Scottsville cemetery.
Milford Dan Birch was the son of Lester and Edna Koch Birch. He was born on the family farm near Scottsville, KS. He attended the elementary school in Scottsville and graduated with honors from Beloit High School in 1939. Milford was senior class president, Hi-Y president, and took part in the class plays and many other activities.
On Feb. 16, 1942, he enlisted in the US Air Force. Due to his eyesight he was denied combat but was trained for Army-Commercial flight. He received training at Lewis Air Field in Hays, KS and Sheppard Field in Texas and was taking cross country flying at Coffeyville, KS. It was on an instrument training mission that his plane collided with a larger plane. He and his instructor were both killed instantly. Milford lacked three weeks of earning his commission. He had received his pilot's license on Aug. 5, 1942, and radio-telephone operator's permit on Sept. 13, 1943. The accident occurred near Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 26, 1943. Milford's body was returned in a closed casket to the family home and he was buried at the Scottsville cemetery.
On Feb. 16, 1942, he enlisted in the US Air Force. Due to his eyesight he was denied combat but was trained for Army-Commercial flight. He received training at Lewis Air Field in Hays, KS and Sheppard Field in Texas and was taking cross country flying at Coffeyville, KS. It was on an instrument training mission that his plane collided with a larger plane. He and his instructor were both killed instantly. Milford lacked three weeks of earning his commission. He had received his pilot's license on Aug. 5, 1942, and radio-telephone operator's permit on Sept. 13, 1943. The accident occurred near Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 26, 1943. Milford's body was returned in a closed casket to the family home and he was buried at the Scottsville cemetery.
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