2nd Lt. William M. Lewis
Welcome Home
Posted on 05/28/2004 7:27:20 PM PDT by nuconvert
Army Pilot Killed in World War II Finally Buried in Oklahoma, Next to Brother
By Clayton Bellamy/ AP
May 28, 2004
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A World War II Army pilot killed nearly 60 years ago but long classified as missing in action was buried Friday in his hometown next to his brother. A bugler played taps, five soldiers fired a three-shot volley and four World War II training fighters flew overhead at a traditional military ceremony for 2nd Lt. William M. Lewis.
"It is finished," said Sharon Cross, who was about 6 months old when her father died. "I feel complete for the first time."
Lewis' P-51 fighter was shot down Sept. 11, 1944, over eastern Germany during a fierce air battle in which 57 U.S. aircraft were lost. Lewis' plane was last seen nose-diving into a forest.
A German naturalist, Adelbert Wolf, found Lewis' wreckage and buried what remains he could find in a field near Oberhof. Wolf marked the grave with a cross and tended it for decades.
About a decade before the Berlin Wall fell, Wolf notified an American about the grave, and a U.S. delegation visited the site but was not permitted by the Communist government to exhume the remains.
Lewis' grave remained in obscurity until Cross, motivated in 2001 by the film "Saving Private Ryan," decided to search for her father. A family friend, computer consultant Ken Breaux, found a Czech aviation buff and battle historian, Jan Zdiarsky, over the Internet. Lewis was found.
A U.S. recovery team spent a month excavating the crash site and grave in 2002. After official identification, Lewis' remains were returned to Cross two months ago.
"So many people came together to see that my father came home," Cross said. "It's the most amazing thing I have ever seen."
About 78,000 soldiers are still missing in action from World War II, and about 30 bodies are found, identified and brought home each year.
Lewis is buried next to his brother, Ted Lewis, who died Sept. 30, 1944, in a bomber crash near Walla Walla, Wash.
A new headstone will replace one engraved "Missing In Action" that has marked the gravesite for decades.
WWII, Pong
Over 20,000 air-crewmen were killed just in training during WWII.
Wow....that's incredible.
Pinging a few other gravity cheaters. To me it is always amazing that men went to war in sleek Mustangs, stately Flying Forts, and treacherous Marauders, with maybe 200 hours total time. Exercise for the reader: call any aviation insurance broker, tell them you have 200 hours total time, all in Stearmans and T-6s, and just bought a P-51, and what will your insurance rates be? (Tip: pick a broker in known good cardiac health).
On a more serious notw, this family gave a lot to the conquest of Fascism -- and of the air. Two sons/brothers. No wonder Saving Private Ryan struck a chord with the surviving sister.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Note Sept 11 and then Sept 30, 1944 for each brother.
I can almost hear the musical accompaniment:
Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed. What a tragedy for their family.
Nice article for the Memorial weekend. I'm going to Ft. Snelling National Cemetary for the holiday's ceremony and will fly, at home, a vintage WWII 48-star flag for this hero's return home.
My father flew in PBM's in the Black Cat Squadrons. After the war, he a couple mates bought a Stearman and flew that for quite a few years for kicks. Courted my Mama in it, too (can't imagine any hanky-panky in the double cockpits). Wish he still had it...
Thanx
There are some amazing people in the world.
Yeah.....amazing.
Have a nice Memorial Day
Thanks for the ping Sam. Good story.
He's listed on the Missing tablets at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.
Not a sister, but the daughter of the brother recently reburied.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.