Flight Sergeant Donald J. Maskill, Royal Canadian Air Force, Killed in Training, 1942

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Donald Joseph Maskill was born on 9 March 1915, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Robert J. & Lucille (Hamilton) Maskill, of Marion, Ohio. His parents are buried in Marion Cemetery. Donald J. Maskill was a graduate of Harding High School Class of 1933. Donald was a member of the Hi-Y Club, Boy Scouts and played both football and basketball while at Harding. Prior to entering service Donald was employed
at the Lawrence Cheney Grocery and also as a salesman at the Omar Banking Company.

Donald J. Maskill received a permanent deferment from the United States Selective Service, which allowed American citizens to serve on active duty with any allied services. On 28 October 1940, Maskill joined to Royal Canadian Air Force. He received basic flight training at Brandon, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; advanced flight training at Saskatchewan, Canada; advanced bombing and combat operations training at Macleod, Alberta, Canada. Upon completion of training Maskill received his flight wings at Macleod, and became a Flight Sergeant. He was then ranked as a pilot.

Flight Sergeant (Sgt.) Maskill returned to Marion, Ohio, in July 1941, prior to being sent overseas for combat duty. He was then stationed at Marham Aerodrome, Norfolk, England, in August of 1941. He was flying with the 115th Royal Air Force Squadron “Despite The Elements.”

On 15 January 1942, while on a training flight, the aircraft crashed upon landing. Sgt. Maskill was the Second Pilot on this flight. It was reported that the aircraft experienced severe icing, in which the wind screen was totally glazed over. First Pilot D. H. Faith was unable to land the aircraft and all six crewmen aboard were killed, including Sgt. Donald J. Maskill of Marion, Ohio.

Flight Sergeant Donald J. Maskill was buried on 20 January 1942 at Marham Cemetery, Marham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England.

Donald J. Maskill is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Flight Sergeant Donald J. Maskill is also remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

The casualties of the Wellington accident were:
RAF Sergeant Ronald Frederick Bishop
RAFVR Sergeant Donald Hewett Faith
RAFVR Flight Sergeant Sidney Carl Lester
RCAF Flight Sergeant Donald Joseph Maskill
RAFVR Sergeant Stanley Arthur Orford
RAF Sergeant Robert Miller Shaw

PFC Marion L. Holycross Killed in Action, 1945

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Marion Lee Holycross was born 23 March 1926, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Russell L. & Lillie V. (White) Holycross. Prior to entering service, he was employed at Baker Wood Preserving Company; City Ice and Fuel Company; and the Scioto Ordnance Plant, Marion, Ohio.

Marion L. Holycross entered service on 19 May 1944, at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky. He would receive training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Pvt. Marion L. Holycross served with F company, 2nd Battalion, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division “Trailblazers.” He began overseas service in November of 1944. On 13 January 1945, he was reported as missing, while serving in France. His unit was fighting a defensive action against the German Operation Norwind. It was later reported that he was killed in action on 13 January 1945.

Actions on 13 January 1945
The regiment moved its CP to Woerth, France, 13 January 1945 with lst Battalion relieving the 3d Battalion, 157th Infantry; 2d Battalion relieving the 3d Battalion, 157th infantry; 2d Battalion relieving the lst Battalion 315th Infantry (attached to 157th Infantry) and the 3d Battalion relieving the1st Battalion 36th Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS 276th INFANTRY
APO 461 — U.S.ARMY

Subject: Narrative Report of 276th Infantry
31 January, 1945

To: Commanding General, Task Force Herren, APO 461, U.S. Army
Att: AG Historical Section

In the new position the 276th Infantry’s left flank was at Jaegarthal and its right Lembach. Its mission was to deny the area to the enemy.

276th Infantry Records

PFC Marion L. Holycross is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

PFC Marion L. Holycross is remembered on the Honor Roll, Honor Roll at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery. His name is missing from the honor roll on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse. This may be due to the initial report of him being MIA. On the Veterans Memorial Park Honor Roll, his name appears out of alphabetical order and is the last name on the roll. His name may have been added late.

Pvt. Harry (Henry) Victor Chambers Killed in Action, 1918

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Henry Victor Chambers was born in 2 August 1890, in Marion County, Ohio. His parents are William T. & Emma J. (Reber) Chambers of the LaRue/Meeker area. Henry moved west and was working and moving from town to town. Henry last wrote his parents while he was in Chicago. He was later reported as being a clerk at a restaurant in Oklahoma. After his letter from Chicago, his parents had not heard from him in three years and had thought he must have died somehow and was not identified.

Henry V. Chambers appears to have entered service from California. By December of 1917, Henry had returned to the east coast with the army. On 15 December 1917, he departed Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS Leviathan (ID# 1326). He was at that time assigned to the 41st Division “Jungleers” or “Sunsetters,” 164th Infantry Regiment, Company I. He was ranked a Private (Pvt.)

At some point Pvt. Henry V. Chambers was reassigned to the 26h Infantry Regiment, First Infantry Division “Big Red One.” During the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, Pvt. Chambers was killed by shell fire, on 18 July 1918. His parents did not learn of his death for three years. It appears his death was reported on the list “CASUALTIES OF AMERICAN ARMY OVERSEAS, REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1918.” But his name was spelled “Harry,” not “Henry.” This may explain his parents not being notified.

His parents did receive a letter from Lieutenant C. Ridgley of D Company, 26th Infantry. The letter from Lt. Ridgley was dated 11 August 1918. He thought the parents had already been notified of their son’s death. He stated in the letter, “He was a most excellent soldier and was well liked by all who knew him.”
Pvt. Henry V. Chambers is buried in Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Seringes-et- Nesles, France. A gravestone marker is also located in the Frame Cemetery, Meeker, Ohio.

Henry V. Chambers is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War One Honor Roll, located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse.
Note: Henry’s name appears as “Harry” on the Marion memorials.

Tech. Sgt. Charles W. Speece Killed in Action, 1943

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Charles Wynfield Speece was born on 10 May 1920, in Marion County, Ohio. His parents are Earl & Delila (Bayles) Speece, of near Kirkpatrick, Ohio. Charles’ brother is Corporal Earnest Speece. Charles W. Speece attended Kirkpatrick School and was a 1938 graduate of the Waldo High School. Charles “Slim” worked as a dairy helper at the Chuck Walt Farm, located north of Bucyrus.

Charles W. Speece was inducted into service on 15 April 1942, in Crawford County. He attended radio school at Scott Field, Illinois; flexible gunnery school at Fort Myers, Florida. Speece was assigned as a crew member of a B-24 Liberator in January 1943, while in Tucson, Arizona. He was a Technical Sergeant trained as a Radio Operator/Gunner, at Scott Field, Illinois before going to Tucson. While home in May of 1943, he was engaged to Miss Geneva Underwood.

Tech. Sergeant Charles W. Speece was assigned to the 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. He was stationed in England. Tech. Sgt. Speece was assigned to B-24 Liberator #42-40767, named “The Bad Penny.” He had completed five missions.

On 27 August 1943, Tech Sgt. Charles W. Speece was reported as Missing in Action, while returning to England from a mission in North Africa.

B-24 Liberator #42-40767 ‘The Bad Penny’ 564thBS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Slated for 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, aborted on ground due to mechanical failure. Flew on next mission after Ploesti.
27th Aug 43, while en-route from Marrakesh to England, the Lighter crew and their aircraft disappeared, with all aboard presumed lost. A/C was attacked by German fighters over the Channel. One prop was feathered after the first pass, the aircraft losing altitude. Then the rear fuselage was badly hit; the top turret also exploding. The pilot ditched as he was too low for a bailout. Due to the rough sea the B-24 broke in two at the back end of the bomb-bay and sank quickly, approximately 65 miles southwest of Portreath. 12 KIA 3 POW.

MACR 12266.

It appears that the remains of Tech. Sgt. Charles W. Speece were recovered and returned for burial in New Caledonia Cemetery, Ohio.

Charles W. Speece is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Crew and passengers of B-24 Liberator #42-40767 ‘The Bad Penny’
2/Lt. Dwayne C. Ligther -Pilot – POW
2/Lt. Dale E. Reinard – CoPilot – POW
S/Sgt. Claude H. Mitchell Jr. – Gunner- Normandy A.C. Memorial
S/Sgt. Alfred E. Poitras – Gunner- Saint Hyacinth Cemetery, Maine
S/Sgt. Herbert W. Hurst – Gunner – Brittany A.C.M., Plot K, Row 14, Grave 22
S/Sgt. John E. Stout – Gunner – Normandy A.C.M., Plot E, Row 18, Grave 3
2/Lt. Lars F. Schultz- Bombadier – Normandy A.C. Memorial
T/Sgt. Thomas L. Shaver – Engineer- Normandy A.C. Memorial
T/Sgt. Charles W. Speece – Radio Operator – New Caledonia Cemetery, Ohio
2/Lt. Sherwood V. Williams – Navigator – Calvary Cemetery, Minnesota
Sgt. Chester R. Woolfe – Passenger – Brittany A.C.M., Plot F, Row 15, Grave 3
S/Sgt. Howard S. Haaf – Passenger – Normandy A.C. Memorial
T/Sgt. Edward L. Keller – Passenger – Brittany A.C.M., Plot L, Row 11, Grave 19
M/Sgt. Charles E. Kronenberg – Passenger – POW
Sgt. Manuel H. Weems – Passenger – Fairview Cemetery, Oklahoma

Sgt. James R. Betts Died of Injuries, 1953

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James Robert Betts was born on 17 September 1931, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are James Betts & Lula (Coon) Gullett. He was married to Gillie G. (Ferris), in Indiana, on 29 December 1951.

James R. Betts attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.). He served in Korea with the 630th Engineer Light Equipment Company, 19th Engineer Construction Group. Sgt. James Betts served as a construction equipment operator. While operating a bulldozer a can of gasoline exploded. Sgt. Betts received severe burns to his body and respiratory tract. He was taken for treatment to the 11th Evacuation Hospital. Sgt. James R. Betts died from his injuries on 29 September 1953.

Sgt. James R. Betts was awarded: the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Sgt. James R. Betts is buried in the C M Cemetery, Oak Hill, Jackson County, Ohio.

James R. Betts’ name is not found on any Honor Rolls in Marion County.