World War II Honoree

Edwin L. Schoonover

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Megan Van Dyke Pittman

ENTERED SERVICE ON 27 MARCH 1943 AND TRAINED AT LAS VEGAS GUNNERY SCHOOL IN NEVADA. FLEW COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS BALL-TURRET GUNNER IN B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBERS. ON 13 OCTOBER 1944, PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON MISSION OVER VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND THE 8 MAN CREW WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. LATER DETERMINED THAT 5 OF THE CREW BAILED OUT AND WERE INTERNED. HOWEVER, HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS BALL-TURRET ON THE AFT UNDERBELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AND 2 FELLOW CREWMEN, WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE HIM, WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. KILLED IN ACTION STATUS CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAM ON 3 JULY 1945. HONORED AT WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.