Iowa Old Press
Algona Upper DesMoines
Algona, Kossuth co. Iowa
February 22, 1944
Lieut. Arne Pedersen Killed When Plane Crashed In England
Feb. 2d
On Friday Mrs. Paul A. Pedersen and son, Bobby, arrived
from Denver, Colorado, where she had been making her home since
her husband, Lt. Paul A. Pedersen, better known here as Arne, had
left for overseas duty with the army air corps. Arne had been
stationed in England since November. His mother, Mrs. Marie L.
Pedersen, now living in Overland, Mo., near the camp in which a
younger son Richard is receiving training was notified last week
that her son, Lt. Pedersen, had been killed in an airplane crash
in England, but details as to just when or how had not been
received. She wired Arne’s wife and the latter and baby son
arrived in Algona and are now with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray
Smith, just west of town.
Joined Air Corps – 1942
Arne Pedersen, a graduate of the Class of ’39, local high
school, signed up with the army air corps early in 1942 and was
called to ser5vice in August of that year. His training was had
at several airfields and schools in California and western points
and he was commissioned a lieutenant and received his wings in
the summer of 1943. On November 15th while on a mission his
airplane crashed near Palermo, California, but he parachuted to
safety. It was only a short time later that he was transferred to
duties in England.
Married, Has Son
Lt. Pedersen married Laura, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Smith,
and they have a son, Bobby, about seven months old. His three
brothers are also in the service. Roland with an army medical
unit in North Africa, Kenneth with the navy at a station in
Norfolk, Va., and Richard a radio mechanic in the army air corps
at Scott Field, Ill.
Mrs. Pedersen, Arne’s mother, is making her home with the
son Roland’s wife in Missouri, but is expected home this
week, possibly today, as her daughter-in-law is returning to
Denver, Colo. Besides those mentioned, Arne is also survived by
his father, Morton Pedersen, formerly of Algona, who now lives in
Denver.
Aviation Enthusiast
Arne was born February 11, 1920, and was just under 24 years of
age. For about two years following his graduation from the local
high school, he was employed at the Algona Upper Des Moines
office where he endeared himself to all with who he worked. While
here he took flying lessons and had taken all the preliminary
work to soloing, when he was called into the service. Much of his
spare time was spent at “Squeeze Field.” He was an
aviation enthusiast and had studied everything he could find on
the subject. We rejoiced in his progress and were proud of his
achievement. It is with deepest understanding that we extend our
sincere sympathy to his wife and mother and other members of his
family.
Mrs. Pedersen was accompanied to Algona by her friend, Mrs. Lynn
Lewis, whose husband is in the same squadron Arne was. The two
have been living together in Aurora, Colo., since their husbands
went overseas in December. The men had been flying together since
July. Both women expect to return to Aurora a little later.
Pat Hegarty Ill With Marlaria in Italy
Mrs. Dennis Hegarty has received word that her husband,
Dennis Hegarty, better known as “Pat”, has been sick
with malaria fever since the first part of January, but is now
better. Pat was a well known Algona plumber before joining the
Army, May 1, 1942. He is with the combat engineers. Prior to
going overseas in June 1943, he was stationed at Fort Lewis,
Wash., Camp Pickett, Va., and took amphibious training at Fort
Pierce, Fla. He first went to North Africa, saw action in the
invasion of Sicily, and has since remained “somewhere in
Italy.” Mrs. Hegarty has been ill with yellow jaundice for
the past four weeks at the home of her sister, Mrs. Eugene
Meyers. Friends join in wishing both a speedy recovery.
Anderegg Boy Reported Missing Over Germany
West Bend: Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Anderegg received word
Saturday from the War Department that their son, Staff Sergeant
Richard E. Anderegg, has been missing in action since Feb. 4, in
the raid over Germany. He was a ball turret gunner on a Flying
Fortress.
Durwood Baker Now Lieutenant in Army.
Dr. Durwood L. Baker of Rockwell City is now Lt. Durwood
Baker in the U.S. Army and will report for duty at the
Quartermaster depot in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday. He leaves
Algona today after spending a week here looking after business
matters, during which time he was a guest of the E. C.
McMahon’s. Durwood’s mother, Mrs. L. G. Baker, is
spending the winter in Tucson, Arizona. Durwood graduated in
December from the veterinary college at Iowa State College and
has been practicing his profession with another veterinarian at
Rockwell City for the past six weeks. He has taken R.O.T.C.
training at college.
Cadet. T. K. Kohlhaas to Avon Park, Florida.
Aviation Cadet Thomas K. Kohlhaas, son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Kohlhaas, 309 N. Dodge St., Algona, is stationed for his
primary flight training in the United States Army Air Forces at
Lodwick Aviation Military Academy, Avon Park, Fla. The official
designation of the school is the 61st US AF Training Detachment,
operating under Army Air Forces Eastern Training Command, Maxwell
Field, Ala.
[transcribed by L.Z., July 2016]