Van Nimwegen, Lt. Rodney A. 1921-1943

VANNIMWEGEN, HYINK

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Source: Alton Democrat (7-30-1943)

Born: November 25, 1921
Died: July 23, 1943

YOUNG ALTON OFFICIER ---VICTIM OF PLANE CRASH

Second Lieutenant Rodney Van Nimwegen of Alton, was called to give his life for his country on Friday, July 23rd. The telegram notifying his parents in a plane crash at Great Falls, Montana, reached his parents shortly before six o’clock. His family and the whole community were stunned by the tragedy.

Second Lieutenant Archer McWhorter, a friend of Rodney’s at the Great Falls base, arrived Monday morning, acting as a military escort for the body of his comrade. From him were learned the circumstances of Rod’s passing. He was checking out a new 2-motored light bomber, together with his crew chief, Sgt Kenneth Brandt and made several successful takeoffs and landings with the bomber when suddenly as he was about to land something went wrong, possibly one of the motors failed and the ship plummeted straight to the ground. It was too late for either of the men to bail out but their passing was mercifully sudden. Some of the daily papers reported that the plane was burned, but Lieutenant McWhorter reports that although a small fire started it was quickly extinguished.

Rodney was born November 25, 1921, at Alton, Iowa and was not yet 22 years of age. He attended the Alton Public School, graduating with the class of 1939. In his boyhood he won highest Scouting honors attained in record time the highest Scout ranking of Eagle Scout.

After his graduation from high school he attended Northwestern Junior College in Orange City for a year and studied for one semester at Iowa State College, Ames.

On April 10th, 1942 he entered the armed forces of his country as an Aviation Cadet taking his pilot’s training in Santa Ana, Tulare, Lemoore and Stockton, California, where he received his wings and commission with the class of 42 K. He was then assigned to the 7th Ferrying Group, Gore Field Great Falls, Montana, where he was known as a thorough and conscientious pilot. After serving as co-pilot on many cross country flights he became a first pilot in June of this year and was recommended for promotion to First Lieutenant. Also in June he received his first leave which he spent with his parents here.

That flying was Rod’s calling and mission there is no doubt. His family have a dozen or more of his carefully built model airplanes and his last model of the B-17 bomber hangs in officers quarters at the Great Falls base as a memorial to this brave soldier. He would have been with the Army Air Force even earlier if he could have had his wish. But at the time of his training a certain number of college credits were necessary in order to be accepted for pilot training. Although confident of his ability as a pilot, he was fully aware of the dangers of his mission, and when home on furlough he told his mother that he was not afraid to go if his “time should come.” A number of Alton boys are in the air forces and several are in the cadet training, including Rod’s brother Bob, but Rodney was the only commissioned pilot from this vicinity.

Surviving are his parents, two brothers and a sister: Air Cadet Robert Van Nimwegen of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Philip and Sally at home; and his grandmothers: Mrs. John Van Nimwegen of Alton and Mrs. Joseph Hyink of Santa Ana, California.

Services were held at the Van Nimwegen residence Tuesday at 2:30. Reverend Charles B. Wissink of Muskegon, Michigan delivered a comforting message to family and friends assembled and Floyd Post of the American Legion officiated at a brief and impressive ceremony. Many beautiful flowers, the tribute of friends and relatives, banked the grave as Amelia Schroeder and Mathilda Winston, members of Floyd Post, removed from the casket the national colors and presented the flag to the family in the name of the government of the United States. Lieutenant McWhorter gave the salute to his comrade as Scout Jack Luhring sounded taps.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post of Remsen, of which Lieutenant Rodney’s father is a member, and its Auxiliary were well represented at the rites and the Granville Legion Post was also present with their colors. Several members of the Armed Forces home on furlough also assisted. Pfc. Kenneth Jansen of Sheldon and Corporal Odilo Goebel of Granville were color guards and the national colors were carried by VFW N.H. Hatz of Remsen, Legionnaire Ed Boldenow of Granville and Ensign Max Aalbers of Farragut, Idaho, Post colors were carried by Sergeant Douglas Allen, veteran of the Jap attack on Bickam Field and high school mate of Lieutenant Rod, VFW S. M. Fidler of Remsen and Legionnaire J.P. Gaul of Granville.

Pallbearers were Legionnaires E.J. Roelfson, D.D. De Boer, Albert Schnee, Joe Aberson, Matt Klein, M.J. Goebel; members of the Floyd Post firing squad with D.T. Hoxmeier in charge were O.P. Kettler, Hugo Jochum, H.D. Muyskens, John Kool, John Plium, and Ben Goettsch.

Alton places of business were closed during the service.