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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Patrick E. Pilon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Jerry Penry

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A BOMBARDIER OF A B-17F ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ BOMBER, WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 31, 1943 WHEN HIS BOMBER CRASHED NEAR THE KEARNEY ARMY AIR FIELD, KEARNEY, NEBRASKA. WHILE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE, APPROXIMATELY 3500 FEET, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE AND THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RTB (RETURN TO BASE). THE BOMBER BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE AND WENT INTO A STEEP DIVE, CRASHING AND EXPLODING UPON IMPACT. THE ACCIDENT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF ALL EIGHT CREWMEMBERS.