Ardmore Army Air Field-In Memory Of

Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base
Ardmore, Oklahoma

"All Gave Some-Some Gave All"
These men never made it to combat. They died in the process of perfecting their skills as aircraft crewmen and support personnel at the Ardmore Army Air Field and Ardmore Air Force Base. The tragic accidents in which they died changed the lives of their loved ones and close friends forever. These airmen were a vital part of the defense process and gave their all in helping preserve our American freedoms. We dedicate this page to the memory of these men and others who served and trained during both activation periods of the base.

One or more crew members severely injured in crashes at Ardmore may have died weeks or even months later and their names were not available through our information sources. Should this have happened, "To The Unknown" at the bottom of this page is in remembrance of them. If you can contribute information, including pictures, to make this listing complete, please do so. If you want to help find relatives of these men, it will be appreciated. Contact me when you have the information, picture or have a question. Thanks in Advance! Time is Fleeting!
email gsimmons

Date of Crash/Site@ Type Of Aircraft Those Who Died Hometown or Station

Mar. 14, 1943 @ L-3C "Grasshopper" (43-1501) Flight Officer, /Lt. Emil M. Horkavi, 30, flight check pilot Gary, Indiana

Flight Officer/Lt. Frank M. Dimond, 29, certification flight Wilmington, California
July 12, 1943 @ B-26C (41-34770) Marauder Captain Sheldon H. Pierce, pilot Jacksonville, Florida
Lt. William M. Lester, 26, co-pilot Safford, Alabama
Lt. Joseph E. Murphy, navigator Waterloo, Iowa
Cpl. Paul W. Banks Centerville, Tennessee
Sgt. Austin M. Foley Middle Village, New York
Sgt. William C. Williams Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania
M/Sgt. Estel B. Johnson (WWI Veteran) Greencastle, Indiana

Nov. 17, 1943@ B-17F (42-5270) Flying Fortress Lt. Leland D. Jewell-(Struck by No. 2 propeller at Galveston Army Air Field) Stevens, Washington

Dec. 15, 1943 @ B-17F (42-5136) Flying Fortress Lt. Robert W. Smith, 24 Englewood, New Jersey

Lt. Wendell R. Wheelock, 25 Baltimore, Maryland

Lt. Robert E. Ruebsam, 25 Ocean City, New Jersey

Sgt. James R. Wilson, 25 Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Sgt. Charles E. Freeman, 21 Caddo, Texas

FO/Lt. Gaetano Marchese, 20 Lawrence, Massachusetts

Sgt. Daniel D. Cote, 29 Chicago, Illinois

Lt. George A. Hileman, 20 Washington, DC

Lt. Henry A. Post, 22 Fulton, Illinois

S/Sgt. Marion K. Himebaugh, 27 Bronson, Michigan

Sgt. Willie Glaze, 21 Adger, Alabama

Pvt. Deeb A. Jabaly, Jr., 22 Daytona Beach, Florida

Nov. 4, 1943 @ B-17F(42-3466)Flying Fortress Lt. Derald C. Holland, 24 Santa Ana, California
Lt. Lee R. Woodall Jr., 21 El Dorado, Arkansas

Lt. Frank G. Adair, 24 Chicago, Illinois

Pfc. Clair W. Davidson, 29 West Lafayette, Indiana

Pfc. Andrew J. Matthews, 21 Farmington, Missouri

Jan. 16, 1944@ B-17F(42-30761)Flying Fortress S/Sgt. Elmo A. Hagen, Gunnery Instructor, hit by stray bullet from another aircraft while in formation at Air-to-Air Gunnery Range near Galveston, Texas Kent County, Michigan

Apr. 24, 1944 @ B-17G(42-102786)Flying Fortress Lt. Milton Hansberry, 23, instructor pilot at the controls. Seattle, Washington

Lt. Charles H. Boyer Jr., 27, pilot Ft. Worth, Texas

Lt. Loren Crites, 25, co-pilot (Previously served in Royal Canadian Air Force) Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Lt. Edward W. Hamlin, 22 Mason, Michigan

Cpl. Andrew L. Lasater, 21 Sikeston, Missouri

Pfc. Forrest W. Weissert, 28 South Bend, Indiana

Cpl. Victor E. Turner, 23 Waterloo, Iowa

Pfc. Billie F. Marrs, 20 Paris, Illinois

Pfc. Donald G. Petersen, 18 Lansing, Illinois

Pfc. Walter O. Dytman, 18 Elmira, New York

Cpl. James C. Demetry, 25 Chicago, Illinois

Feb. 12, 1944 @ B-17F (42-30481) Flying Fortress Captain William R. Heck, 25 Middletown, Ohio

Lt. Robert N. Bulloch, 25 Cedar City, Utah

Lt. Collins O. Gerstner, 24 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lt. Jack L. Rider, 27 Glendale, California

Captain Oswald L. Bernich, 28 Biloxi, Mississippi

Sgt. Albert F. Franczyk, 20 E. Vandegrift, Pennsylvania

Cpl. Anthony T. Casino, 21 Follansbee, W. Virginia

Sgt. Ray N. Wise, 20 Texarkana, Arkansas

Sgt. Leslie C. Hill, 21 Medford, Orgeon

Sgt. John W. Ashba, Jr., 26 Steubenville, Ohio

June 14, 1944 @ B-17F(42-29929)Flying Fortress Sgt. Edward M. Ragsdale-(died parachuting near Salina, Kansas.) Indianapolis, Indiana

Sept. 24, 1944 @ B-17G(42-102410)Flying Fortress Lt. Stanley G. Parsell, 20-(died parachuting north of Ardmore) Angola, Indiana

Pfc. Melbourne Roy Rieke, 24-(died parachuting north of Ardmore) Burlington, Iowa

Cpl. Donald Lynn Cooper, 23-(died parachuting north of Ardmore) Los Angeles, California

Mar. 19, 1954 @ Fairchild C-119F (51-7993) Captain Gene T. Coppedge, 32 Pittsburg, Kansas

Lt. Roy C. Kemmerling, 26 Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

Lt. Henry T. Johnson, 33 S. Portland, Maine

Lt. Richard L. Roloff, 24 Iselin, New Jersey

S/Sgt. Ernest V. Crabtree, 31 Hawthorne, California

A/2C Jon G. Taylor, 18 Adrian, Michigan
Passengers C-119F Army, AirForce, Navy, Marines Pfc. Frederic R. Junghans, Detachment 3, 440th ASU Ft. Benning, Georgia
A/B Wayne R. Snodgrass, 42nd AP Squadron

Limestone AFB, Maine
3C Gerald A. Baldassaro, Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps Bolling AFB, Washington, DC

A/2C Paul H. Springer, Drum and Bugle Corps Bolling AFB, Washington, DC

A/2C Robert M. Strauss, Drum and Bugle Corps Bolling AFB, Washington, DC

A/3C Joseph A. Valente, Drum and Bugle Corps Bolling AFB, Washington, DC

Phillip A. Lavers, USN, "USS Sagamore" (ATA-208) Norfolk, Virginia
Roy G. Lambertson, USN, "USS Sagamore" (ATA-208) Norfolk, Virginia

Sgt. Raymond L. Hahn, Marine Corps MBNB, Norfolk, Virginia
YNSN John S. Hubbard, USN, Flt. A/C Service Squadron 102 Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia

SN Allen R. Hillar, USN, Flt. A/C Service Squadron 102 Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia

AN James D. Robbins, USN, "USS Briareus" (AR-12) Norfolk, Virginia

Aug. 3, 1944 @ Truck Accident (half-ton) Cpl. Alfred E. Ott, 35 Waucoma, Iowa

Pfc. Jess L. Jones, 19 Germantown, Tennessee

Pfc. Maleon M. Stanford, 23 Warsaw, N. Carolina

Pvt. Archie Nimmer, 25 Dermott, Arkansas

usaflag.gif - 10636 Bytes To The Unknown
Who May Have Died Weeks, Months or Years Later From Their Injuries

A Memorial Salute By F-14s
Viewer's Comments-Guest Book

Back To Top
Main Page Memory Jogger,1942-46; 1953-59 Making It Happen,1942-46; 1953-59This I Remember...A Story of Survival
A Small-World, God-Directed, Get-Together
Historical Summary 1942-46, 1953-59

Date of Crash/Site@	Type Of Aircraft	Those Who Died	Hometown or Station
Mar. 14, 1943 @	L-3C "Grasshopper" (43-1501)	Flight Officer, /Lt. Emil M. Horkavi, 30, flight check pilot	Gary, Indiana
		Flight Officer/Lt. Frank M. Dimond, 29, certification flight	Wilmington, California
July 12, 1943 @	B-26C (41-34770) Marauder	Captain Sheldon H. Pierce, pilot	Jacksonville, Florida
		Lt. William M. Lester, 26, co-pilot	Safford, Alabama
		Lt. Joseph E. Murphy, navigator	Waterloo, Iowa
		Cpl. Paul W. Banks	Centerville, Tennessee
		Sgt. Austin M. Foley	Middle Village, New York
		Sgt. William C. Williams	Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania
		M/Sgt. Estel B. Johnson (WWI Veteran)	Greencastle, Indiana
Nov. 17, 1943@	B-17F (42-5270) Flying Fortress	Lt. Leland D. Jewell-(Struck by No. 2 propeller at Galveston Army Air Field)	Stevens, Washington
Dec. 15, 1943 @	B-17F (42-5136) Flying Fortress	Lt. Robert W. Smith, 24	Englewood, New Jersey
		Lt. Wendell R. Wheelock, 25	Baltimore, Maryland
		Lt. Robert E. Ruebsam, 25	Ocean City, New Jersey
		Sgt. James R. Wilson, 25	Hattiesburg, Mississippi
		Sgt. Charles E. Freeman, 21	Caddo, Texas
		FO/Lt. Gaetano Marchese, 20	Lawrence, Massachusetts
		Sgt. Daniel D. Cote, 29	Chicago, Illinois
		Lt. George A. Hileman, 20	Washington, DC
		Lt. Henry A. Post, 22	Fulton, Illinois
		S/Sgt. Marion K. Himebaugh, 27	Bronson, Michigan
		Sgt. Willie Glaze, 21	Adger, Alabama
		Pvt. Deeb A. Jabaly, Jr., 22	Daytona Beach, Florida
Nov. 4, 1943 @	B-17F(42-3466)Flying Fortress	Lt. Derald C. Holland, 24	Santa Ana, California
		Lt. Lee R. Woodall Jr., 21	El Dorado, Arkansas
		Lt. Frank G. Adair, 24	Chicago, Illinois
		Pfc. Clair W. Davidson, 29	West Lafayette, Indiana
		Pfc. Andrew J. Matthews, 21	Farmington, Missouri
Jan. 16, 1944@	B-17F(42-30761)Flying Fortress	S/Sgt. Elmo A. Hagen, Gunnery Instructor, hit by stray bullet from another aircraft while in formation at Air-to-Air Gunnery Range near Galveston, Texas	Kent County, Michigan
Apr. 24, 1944 @	B-17G(42-102786)Flying Fortress	Lt. Milton Hansberry, 23, instructor pilot at the controls.	Seattle, Washington
		Lt. Charles H. Boyer Jr., 27, pilot	Ft. Worth, Texas
		Lt. Loren Crites, 25, co-pilot (Previously served in Royal Canadian Air Force)	Cape Girardeau, Missouri
		Lt. Edward W. Hamlin, 22	Mason, Michigan
		Cpl. Andrew L. Lasater, 21	Sikeston, Missouri
		Pfc. Forrest W. Weissert, 28	South Bend, Indiana
		Cpl. Victor E. Turner, 23	Waterloo, Iowa
		Pfc. Billie F. Marrs, 20	Paris, Illinois
		Pfc. Donald G. Petersen, 18	Lansing, Illinois
		Pfc. Walter O. Dytman, 18	Elmira, New York
		Cpl. James C. Demetry, 25	Chicago, Illinois
Feb. 12, 1944 @	B-17F (42-30481) Flying Fortress	Captain William R. Heck, 25	Middletown, Ohio
		Lt. Robert N. Bulloch, 25	Cedar City, Utah
		Lt. Collins O. Gerstner, 24	Minneapolis, Minnesota
		Lt. Jack L. Rider, 27	Glendale, California
		Captain Oswald L. Bernich, 28	Biloxi, Mississippi
		Sgt. Albert F. Franczyk, 20	E. Vandegrift, Pennsylvania
		Cpl. Anthony T. Casino, 21	Follansbee, W. Virginia
		Sgt. Ray N. Wise, 20	Texarkana, Arkansas
		Sgt. Leslie C. Hill, 21	Medford, Orgeon
		Sgt. John W. Ashba, Jr., 26	Steubenville, Ohio
June 14, 1944 @	B-17F(42-29929)Flying Fortress	Sgt. Edward M. Ragsdale-(died parachuting near Salina, Kansas.)	Indianapolis, Indiana
Sept. 24, 1944 @	B-17G(42-102410)Flying Fortress	Lt. Stanley G. Parsell, 20-(died parachuting north of Ardmore)	Angola, Indiana
		Pfc. Melbourne Roy Rieke, 24-(died parachuting north of Ardmore)	Burlington, Iowa
		Cpl. Donald Lynn Cooper, 23-(died parachuting north of Ardmore)	Los Angeles, California
Mar. 19, 1954 @	Fairchild C-119F (51-7993)	Captain Gene T. Coppedge, 32	Pittsburg, Kansas
		Lt. Roy C. Kemmerling, 26	Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
		Lt. Henry T. Johnson, 33	S. Portland, Maine
		Lt. Richard L. Roloff, 24	Iselin, New Jersey
		S/Sgt. Ernest V. Crabtree, 31	Hawthorne, California
		A/2C Jon G. Taylor, 18	Adrian, Michigan
Passengers C-119F	Army, AirForce, Navy, Marines	Pfc. Frederic R. Junghans, Detachment 3, 440th ASU	Ft. Benning, Georgia
		A/B Wayne R. Snodgrass, 42nd AP Squadron
Limestone AFB, Maine
		3C Gerald A. Baldassaro, Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps	Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
		A/2C Paul H. Springer, Drum and Bugle Corps	Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
		A/2C Robert M. Strauss, Drum and Bugle Corps	Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
		A/3C Joseph A. Valente, Drum and Bugle Corps	Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
		Phillip A. Lavers, USN, "USS Sagamore" (ATA-208)	Norfolk, Virginia
		Roy G. Lambertson, USN, "USS Sagamore" (ATA-208)	Norfolk, Virginia
		Sgt. Raymond L. Hahn, Marine Corps	MBNB, Norfolk, Virginia
		YNSN John S. Hubbard, USN, Flt. A/C Service Squadron 102	Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia
		SN Allen R. Hillar, USN, Flt. A/C Service Squadron 102	Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia
		AN James D. Robbins, USN, "USS Briareus" (AR-12)	Norfolk, Virginia
Aug. 3, 1944 @	Truck Accident (half-ton)	Cpl. Alfred E. Ott, 35	Waucoma, Iowa
		Pfc. Jess L. Jones, 19	Germantown, Tennessee
		Pfc. Maleon M. Stanford, 23	Warsaw, N. Carolina
		Pvt. Archie Nimmer, 25	Dermott, Arkansas