Bomber crashes near Wayne

Pages of History

The crash of two B-17 bombers north of Laurel on August 5, 1944, was one of the biggest news stories of the year. The names of the 17 men killed that day are remembered on the annual Memorial Day program and on a granite monument along the highway north of town.

This crash, however, was not unique. Because many of the pilots and crew were still training, a number of fatal crashes occurred in Nebraska during the war. In October 1943, a four-engined bomber crashed seven miles southwest of Wayne. All six members of the crew were killed. Eyewitnesses said the plane exploded in mid air and plummeted to the ground scattering debris and body parts over a wide area. The heavy engines were buried in the ground and had to be dug out.

In another tragedy closer to home, Jean O’Gara Meyers received word that her husband, a crewmember on a B-24 bomber, had been missing in action since September 15. She told friends that she hoped he was safe somewhere in enemy country and would eventually return home. But her hopes were dashed three weeks later when she was notified that her husband, Tech Sgt. Walter A. Meyers, had been killed in action somewhere over Germany.

Jean was the daughter of William H. O’Gara, the last Speaker of the House in Nebraska’s old two-house legislature and the granddaughter of Roger T. O’Gara, the founder of Claramont. Jean and Walter were married on May 13, 1943. Four months later he was dead. Although Jean and Walter were together only a short time, they are buried together in Palmyra, MO. (Jean, incidentally, was an early reader of this column and we talked a number of times.)

On Friday, October 15, war was declared on Nebraska’s pheasant population. “Birds are plentiful and hunting conditions will be good,” said the Advocate. There was one problem, however. Shotgun shells were practically unobtainable so the birds were in no immediate danger.

Another fund drive began the same day hunting season opened. This one was comparatively small. Residents of Laurel were asked to donate $828.90 to fund seventeen different organizations including the USO. Teams were assigned to go door-to-door hunting for money. “We must remind you that the nickels and dimes won’t do the job. It’s going to take real folding money,“ said the Advocate. “If the quota is not raised on the first solicitation, another round will be made.”

People seemed to be getting tired of the constant begging for money. Two weeks later the Advocate reported that $200 was all that had been raised. But after a little more arm twisting the quota would be met.

There was another drive going on at the same time. This one was for scrap metal and waste fat. Scrap was hard to find as previous drives had cleaned out most of the remaining metal stashed in farm groves and where waste fat was stashed was not explained. These days it seems to be mostly around the hips and waist.

After defeating the Coleridge Bulldogs 14 to 0 in the first football game of the season, things went downhill. The Bears were defeated by Ponca 18 to 0, by Randolph, 26 to 6, and again by Ponca 14 to 0. With an average weight of 134 pounds, there wasn’t a lot of waste fat on the Laurel boys.

Senator Robert A. Taft proposed cutting back on draft deferments for single men under the age of 30 and for married men with children. Under Taft’s proposal fathers under 25 would be drafted first, fathers between 25 and 30 next, and fathers over 30 last. Taft also proposed lowering physical standards to reduce the number of men classified 4-F (unfit for service).

The Red Cross room in the high school was desperately in need of workers to help wrap bandages. The room was open every afternoon Monday through Friday.

Mrs. C.O. Ericson was appointed a territorial representative of the Red Cross Home Services Department. Her job was to help family members locate servicemen they had been unable to contact by mail.

On Sunday, October 3, members of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church dedicated a service flag to honor men from the congregation serving in the military. The flag had 21 stars – one for each of the following servicemen: Brothers Darrell, Lester, and Victor Dahl, Andrew Nielsen, Harold Nielsen, Raymond Hansen, Knud Jensen, Ingeman Pedersen, Otto Ballard, Clarence Nelson, Martin Larsen, Alfred Hansen, Vernon Knudsen, Carl Johanssen, Monte Peterson, Chris Kvols, Carlo Kastrup, William Hansen, Chris Madsen, Johannes Larsen, and Leo Nielsen.

Two of these men – Lester Dahl and Vernon Knudsen – would be killed in action. As far as this writer knows, none of the others are still living. But one young boy who recited the pledge of allegiance at the dedication is still with us. His name is Borge Kastrup.

Because people in the Midwest and Southwest had been using more than their allotted 75,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the Office of Price Administration reduced the B and C coupon rations from three gallons a week to two.

And to make travel even more difficult, the two railroads that served Laurel ended passenger service. People needing to travel were forced to use a rickety old bus. Editor Allison described a bus ride he had taken to Sioux City: “What a ride we had. Folks sitting on suitcases in the aisle, packed and jammed in worse than sardines. We now know why bus riding is popular with cowboys. It reminds them of their bucking broncos. Things are going to get worse as private cars are tied up due to the shortage of gasoline and rubber. What this outfit plans to do with all the additional passengers is a mystery to us. Maybe they plan to hang them up on the outside of the bus.“