MISSING MAN REPORTED DEAD
Notice that Sgt. Albert T. Collett was declared officially dead on May 8, after being listed for three years as a prisoner of the Japs on Corregidor, was received Monday by his father, George Collett, 335 Tenth avenue, from the war department.
Serving with the air corps, Collett was stationed at Clark field in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese invasion. He was previously reported a prisoner of the Japanese.
Collett was graduated from Thomas Jefferson high school in 1934.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Edna Spence of Davenport; two brothers, Andrew, in the navy, and William of Davenport; and two sisters, Agnes, of Davenport and Mrs. Edith Cooksey of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tuesday, May 16, 1944, Page 4
Posthumous Medal to Sgt. Collett
S. Sgt. Albert H. Collett, formerly of Council Bluffs, listed by the war department May 8, 1944, as officially dead in the Pacific war zone, has been posthumously awarded the air medal.
The decoration was presented to his mother, Mrs. Edna C. Spence, at an informal ceremony Wednesday at her home at Davenport, by 1st Lt. Ned C. White, Des Moines, of the army air force servicing detachment.
The citation was “for meritorious achievement while participating in the first mass flight of B-17’s from Albuquerque, N. M., to Clark field, Pampanga, Luzon, P. I., as a member of a combat crew October-November, 1941.” The flight was made during adverse weather, inadequate radio aids and over long water distances.
Sgt. Collett was in the air corps, stationed at Clark field, Philippines, at the time of the Japanese invasion. He was first reported a prisoner of the Japanese and later declared officially dead.
He graduated from Thomas Jefferson high school in 1934. His father, George Collett and sister, Mrs. Edith Cooksey, both live in Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday, May 24, 1946, Page 10
Return Body of Bluffs Soldier
Sgt. Albert Collett Japanese Prisoner
The body of S. Sgt. Albert T. Collett, a 1934 Thomas Jefferson high school graduate who was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the Philippine invasion has been returned to the United States aboard the army transport Sergeant Morris E. Crain.
Sgt. Collett, son of George Collett, 815 Avenue E, was declared dead by the war department on May 8, 1944. He was stationed with the air corps at Clark field in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese invasion.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Edna Spence of Davenport; two brothers, Andrew of San Pedro, Calif., and William, an air force sergeant at Selfridge Field, Mich.; and two sisters, Agnes and Mrs. Edith Cooksey of Davenport.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday, September 22, 1948, Page 12
Obituaries
S. Sgt. Albert H. Collett
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p. m. at the Cutler funeral home for S. Sgt. Albert H. Collett, who was killed in action May 8, 1944. Burial will be in the Evangelical cemetery, Dumfries.
Here For Funeral
Mrs. Edna Collett of Davenport is here to attend the funeral services for her son, Staff Sgt. Albert T. Collett, to be held Saturday afternoon at Cutler’s funeral home. She is staying at the Goodrich hotel.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tuesday, October 19, 1948, Pages 15 & 18
