World War II Honoree

Millard Jean Walline

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Axtell, Nebraska

Honored By

Janet Velehradsky Raddish

Relationship

Daughter of Buddy James J. Velehradsky

COMPLETED PRIMARY PILOT TRAINING AT GARNER FIELD NEAR UVALDE, TEXAS. SERVED IN THE CLASS 1944 AND HE GRADUATED AS A PILOT ON NOVEMBER 20, 1944 AT PAMPA ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS. ORDERED TO REPORT TO THE FORT WORTH ARMY AIR FIELD FOR B-24 TRANSITION TRAINING. BUNKED WITH ANOTHER PILOT AND FRIEND, JAMES J. VELEHRADSKY, AT THE BACHELOR OFFICERS QUARTERS. ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1944 PLANE WAS INVOLVED IN A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER B-24. AMONG THE 8 PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE COLLISION, WHICH INCLUDED ANOTHER PILOT AND FRIEND, FREDERICH WEBSTER. THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. VELEHRADSKY WAS ORDERED TO ACCOMPANY WALLINE'S BODY BACK TO AXTELL, NEBRASKA, FOR THE FUNERAL. DURING THE SERVICE, A FLIGHT OF B-29'S FROM KEARNEY ARMY AIR FIELD FLEW LOW OVER THE MOURNERS IN THE MISSING COMRADE FORMATION.