Obituaries: Flying Fortress, 1945, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483

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From: March 8, 1945 Winn Parish Enterprise

Flying Fortress Crash At Gum Springs Saturday

A flying fortress from the Alexandria Air Base, believed to have hit the tree
tops as the crew tried to determine its location in the Gum Springs bombing
range section, approximately 14 miles southeast (?) of Winnfield, crashed
Saturday night, killing eleven officers and enlisted men.  The crash happened
at about 8 p.m.

It was reported that one of the men jumped, but his parachute only opened half
way, and he was buried in the ground.  The ten practice bombs the plane was
carrying exploded, and caught the wreckage on fire, according to rumors.

The victims and their next of kin, who have been notified, were: 2nd Lt.
Russell L. Cobb, 28, pilot, husband of Mrs. Florence E. Cobb, West Newton,
Iowa; 2nd Lt. Robert J. Keavy, 20, second pilot, husband of Mrs. Helen M.
Keavy, Alexandria, La.; 2nd Lt. Omar H. Lauridson, 28, navigator, husband of
Mrs. Clairibelle R. Lauridsen, Alexandria; 2nd Lt. Bruno J. Wieclaw, son of
Mrs. Mary Wieclaw, Ravenna, Ohio; T/Sgt. Alexander G. Harwood, 32, radio
operator, husband of Mrs. Virginia P. Harwood, Williamsburg, Va.; Sgt. Harold
D. Bush, 23, radio operator, son of Mrs. Esha E. Bush, Salem, Washington,
Ind.; Cpl. Lester J. Smejkal, 26, gunner, husband of Mrs. Mildred Smejkal,
Lucerne Surgeon Bay, Wis.; Cpl. J. E. Cristes, 19, engineer, son of Mrs.
Margie G. Johnson, San Bernardino, Calif.; Cpl. Niels Anderson, 19, gunner,
son of Mrs. Dorothy Anderson, International Falls, Minn.; Pfc. Bruce C. Rue,
19, gunner, son of Mrs. Florence E. Rue, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Pfc. Millard
B. Beaird, 23, gunner, husband of Mrs. Thelma C. Beaird, Grand Junction, Ohio.