Knecht, Marvin G. 1923-1943

KNECHT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/12/2009 at 15:33:53

The Sioux City Journal, August 17, 1943

LE MARS PRIVATE KILLED BY PLANE
Marvin Knecht Crushed Under Wheels of Bomber

Memphis, Tenn.—(AP)—The Fourth ferrying group public relations officer announced Monday that Private Marvin Knecht, 20, LeMars, Ia., a ground crew worker, was killed Sunday at the municipal airport here.

Knecht was crushed beneath the wheels of a four-engine bomber when it swerved from a takeoff strip and collided with two training planes.

LeMars, Ia.—Special: Private Knecht, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knecht of LeMars, was enlisted in the ferry command. He attended high school here and before joining the Army in 1942 worked as a mechanic.

Surviving in addition to the parents are two sisters and three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in LeMars. Burial will be at Merrill, Ia.

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LeMars Semi-Weekly, August 17, 1943

YOUNG SOLDIER STRUCK BY PLANE
Marvin Knecht Killed At Memphis, Tenn.

Private Marvin G. Knecht of LeMars was killed August 15, when struck by an airplane at the municipal airport in Memphis, Tennessee.

Private Knecht was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knecht of LeMars and was born April 27, 1923, at Akron, Iowa, the family later moving to LeMars. After attending the school in LeMars he worked for an uncle at Delavan, Wisconsin, for three years before entering the army air service on December 10, 1942. He took his basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, and on January 28, was transferred to Memphis where he was a member of the ferry command of the 345th Air Base Squadron at the municipal airport.

Arrangements for the funeral are delayed pending information as to when the body will arrive in LeMars.

In addition to his parents, Marvin is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Merlin Henke and Mary Jean, and three brothers, Arnold, Donald and Duane.
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LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 20, 1943

MARVIN KNECHT BURIED THURSDAY
Struck By Airplane On Landing Field

The funeral services of Pvt. Marvin G. Knecht of LeMars were held Thursday afternoon at the Wiltgen Funeral Home and burial was made at Merrill with military honors. The deceased lived in LeMars and attended the public school. After this he went to Delavan, Wisconsin, where he worked as a mechanic for an uncle several years. In December 1942, he enlisted in the armed forces and after a period of basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, he was transferred to the Fourth Ferry Command in the 346th Air Base Squadron at Memphis, Tenn. His last visit home was early in July in connection with his furlough. At that time he told his parents that he was enjoying his work and was deeply interested in completing the necessary hours of flying for promotion in the aviation service. He had completed more than one-hundred hours of flying.

Circumstances of his death indicate that he was on duty at the Memphis Airport and a four-motored bomber swerved out of control while taking off and struck him. He died shortly after from the injuries received.

His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knecht, living at 600 Sixth Street SE, LeMars. He has two sisters and three brothers who with his parents survive him.

The funeral services were conducted by Dr. B. F. Zuehl, dean of Western Union College. The American Legion and Company D. participated through their representatives in the burial ritual.