Obit: James M. Waller, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** >From the July 14, 1955 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American Dodson Airman Killed In Jet Bomber Crash Airman 1-C James Marshall Waller, 25, son of T. A. Waller and the late Mrs. Waller of Dodson, was killed with three other Barksdale airmen early Thursday morning when a B-47 Stratojet bomber crashed and burned on take off from Barksdale Air Force Base. Sheriff's deputies from Bossier and Caddo Parishes pulled the mangle bodies from the wreckage at 4 a.m. The giant bomber plunged into a wooded area near the edge of the Red River in Caddo Parish about 12:20 a.m., CST., minutes after it took off. Wreckage was strewn over a 5,000 foot wide area. The explosion startled residents over a wide area. The crash happened near Lucas, Louisiana, which is ten miles south of Shreveport. Lt. Col. John Spalding, second air force public information officer, identified the four victims as: Capt. J. B. Brashear, 35, Newport, Ark., aircraft commander; Capt. L. R. Castle, Jr., 32, San Angelo, Tex., pilot; Capt. C. J. de Jung, 33, Patzau, Wis., observer, and Airman 1-C James Waller, 25, Dodson, La., crew chief. The big plane, which went down ten miles southeast of Shreveport, was from the 512th squadron of the 376th Bomb Wing. Officers said the wrecked plane apparently never gained altitude. The six-engine bomber was taking part in night training maneuvers and several other Barksdale based planes already were in the air. Airman Waller, who enlisted at Barksdale four years ago, would have received his discharge in October. He is survived by his wife, the former Jeanette Ferguson, and three children, Arlene, 3, James Michael, 2, and Joy Marie, three months, all of Homer, La.; his father, T. A. Waller of Dodson who is employed at Jefferson, Texas; and one sister, Mrs. Esther Waller Blackburn of Dodson. He leaves a host of relatives and friends in Winn Parish. Funeral services were incomplete as this newspaper went to press, pending release of the remains from the Air Force. >From the July 21, 1955 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American Last Rites Held For A-1C Waller Killed in Crash Last rites were held Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, for A-1C James Marshall Waller, 25, who was killed in the explosion of an Air Force Training plane near Lucas, La., at midnight, Thursday, July 13. Saturday morning memorial services were held at the Barksdale field chapel with Chaplain W. E. Howell officiating. These services were for all four men killed in the crash. Airman Waller's body was taken to Homer funeral home Friday where it lay in state until Saturday morning when it was transported to Dodson to the home of his father, T. A. Waller, where it remained until 2 p.m. It was then removed to New Hope Methodist Church where services were conducted by the Rev. L. G. Shaw, pastor, assisted by Rev. Clyde Averett, pastor of the Dodson Baptist Church. From there it was again taken to Homer to the funeral home, where it lay in state until Sunday at 2:30 when military services were conducted, and the body laid to rest in the Homer cemetery. Acting as pallbearers at the Dodson service were R. W. Mathews, C. B. Payne, Clayton Norred, Erving Price, Enos Murphy, and McArtis Price. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Geanete N. Ferguson Waller, three children, Janet Arlene, 3, Joy Marie, 4 months, and James Michael, 2, all of Homer, La.; his father, step-mother, one sister, Mrs. Esther Waller Blackburn, all of Dodson; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Thomas of Sikes. (Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.)