KIME, Samuel

KIME, MCCORMICK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 12/14/2008 at 16:54:47

"The Fairfield Ledger", Thursday, April 4, 1957, Page 5, Column 1

Body of Ensign KIME, Lost In 1942 Plane Crash

Wreckage of the military plane which carried Ensign Samuel KIME to his death shortly after the United States' entry into World War II has been found in a mountainous area of California.

The former Jefferson county flier was reported missing on Feb. 15, 1942, being among the first men lost from this county. He was officially listed as dead by the war department on May 8, 1943.

Two representatives of the United States navy arrived in Fairfield this morning to officially notify the next of kin that KIME's body has been found.

They were Lt. Commander A. J. Kalinoski, commanding officer of the U. S. Naval Reserve Training Center at Burlington; and Lt. Commander E. F. Robb, chaplain of the Burlington unit. Robb is pastor of the Presbyterian church in Middletown.

They said they had been notified that the remains are now at the Johnson-Baum Mortuary in San Diego. The next of kin will be given an opportunity to decide where they shall be interred.

Ensign KIME was a naval pilot during the early stages of World War II.

He was one of four pilots flying new fighter planes from New York to San Diego. They encountered a severe storm and all planes were lost. Wreckage of one was found in 1954 near Ramona. A second was discovered last year east of the Laguna mountains. Now the other two have been found.

Papers Found

A surveyor party found the wreckage in a canyon while surveying it for a park. They found a torn identification card and papers carried by Ensign KIME, and his billfold with $81 in currency.

The scattered, rusty wreckage of the two planes was found on a 2,500 foot mountain top in what is known as Clambake range of Eastern San Diego county, 55 miles by road southeast of Julian.

The discovery, which was printed in California newspapers, attracted the attention of Keith Steinbeck, a California resident who was in KIME's class at Richland high school.

The two engines and four machine guns found in the wreckage helped identify the aircraft. Human remains were found at the scene.

Richland High School

Samuel KIME was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd KIME who lived on a farm nine miles northwest of Fairfield. Mrs. KIME now deceased.

He attended Richland high school and was graduated with the class of 1938. Following 2½ years at Penn college in Oskaloosa, he enlisted in the navy on Dec. 17, 1940, and was commissioned an ensign on Dec. 9, 1941, just two days after Pearl Harbor.

His father now lives on a farm south of Richland. He is also survived by a brother Leo, who lives in Illinois; and a sister, Mrs. Ruth McCORMICK, Fairfield.

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"The Fairfield Ledger", Monday, April 8, 1957, Page 1, Column 6

Packwood Rites for Ensign KIME

RICHLAND, Ia. -- Military rites for Ensign Samuel KIME, Jefferson county airman killed during World War II, will be held in the Packwood cemetery, it was learned today.

No date for the service had been set.

The body of Ensign KIME was recently found in the wreckage of his plane in a remote mountain area near San Diego, Calif. He was first reported missing Feb. 15, 1942.

Ensign KIME was the son of Floyd KIME, who now resides on a farm south of Richland. Members of the family have been informed by the U. S. navy that they will be shipped from San Diego.

Graveside services will be condcted by Lt. Cmdr. A. J. Kalinoski, commanding officer of the Burlington Naval Reserve Training unit and Lt. Cmdr. E. F. Robb, Naval Reserve chaplain. The American Legion will also participate.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.