Army Air Forces

Rasmussen, Emil Olaf

Shot down and killed October 14, 1943, on the 2nd Schweinfurt raid, it was his 24th mission. His plane was 42-37720 which, according to news clippings at the time, was named the "Jackie Ellen". It was one of the first planes to go down on the mission. All were lost except the radio operator, TSgt Joseph C. Bocelli. His remains were repatriated to the United States and interred on November 27, 1950.

Purdy, James Granville

Born in Germany, he fought and died in the service of the American armed forces during an armed confrontation with Japanese forces in World War II. He was declared missing in action, presumed dead, when his B-17, successfully returning from a mission to bomb Bogadjim village in New Guinea, was attacked by Japanese Ki-43 Oscars of the 24th Sentai and crashed off Bogadjim, 100 yards offshore from the mouth of the Mindjim River.

Pederson, Harold Lawrence

Born in Chicago, Illinois, 2nd Lt Pederson studied Secretarial Science during his stay at Oregon State College. While serving with the Army Air Force’s 4th Fighter Squadron 52nd Fighter Group he was shot down while flying a British Spitfire the American Forces had somewhere in the North African area. He was survived by his parents and two brothers.

https://oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71b9631#page/5/mode/1u... (pg 5)

Paschild, Victor Albert Jr.

1st Lt Paschild was born in Tacoma, Washington.  While serving with the Army Air Corps 672nd Bomber Squadron 417th Bomber Group, he, was a passenger on C-47A #43-16011 that was assigned to his sister squadron the 673rd Bomber Squadron. This flight was taking airmen who had been on leave back to their duty stations. The aircraft took off, with a crew of 4 and 20 passengers, from Garbutt Field (APO 321), Queensland Australia on a ferrying mission to Finschafen Airfield (APO 322), Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. This C-47 was not heard from or seen again after takeoff.

Parker, Harry Burdette

Born in Hansen, South Dakota, 1st Lt Parker Graduated from Oregon State College with a Bachelors in Agriculture. While serving with the Army Air Force’s 854th Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group his aircraft B-24 Buno # 44-40210, was shot down by anti-aircraft fire crashing near Tilburg, Holland during a supply drop in Operation Market Garden. He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents and five siblings.  

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56302531

Nelson, Rudolph C.

2nd Lt Nelson was born in Portland, Oregon. While serving with the Army Air Forces 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group he was the Bombardier aboard B-17F Flying Fortress Aircraft #42-31030 “Shy Ann”, the aircraft experienced mechanical faults after take off. The Fortress went into a spin at around 3,000 ft and then crashed into the North Sea off of Aldeburgh, England.

https://oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t184#page/8/mode/1u... (pg 8)

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