HARRER BROTHERS VISIT HERE
Flight Officer and Mrs. Robert G. Harrrer, the former Katherine Burke, who have been visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Harrer, 153 Crescent drive, and Dr. and Mrs. T. A. Burke, 328 Pennsylvania S. E., return this week to Camp Maxon, N. Car., where he is an instructor in the glider service. Camp Maxon is the center where the final phases of training for the air borne commands is carried on. Mrs. Harrer will remain in Mason City for the time being.
A brother, Aviation Cadet Jerry Harrer, left Tuesday for the naval flight training center at Olathe, Kans., after a week's visit at the parental home following the completion of this pre-flight training at Iowa City naval pre-flight school.
The 3rd brother, Lt. Don G. Harrer, a B-17 co-pilot, now in England, has been actively engaged in a number of raids which the 8th army air forces have made over the continent during the last 4 weeks, according to letters received from him by his family. Mrs. Don Harrer, the former Betty Hakes, is visiting at the present time in Muscatine.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Friday, February 15, 1944, Page 8 (Brothers photo included)
IT LOOKS LIKE STORK MAY BE OUTFLYING FLYING HARRERS
Mr. and Mrs. George Harrer Grandparents 3 Times in Month
Mr. and Mrs. George H. Harrer, 125 Crescent drive, parents of the "flying Harrers" of local renown, are of the opinion that the stork is well on his way toward outflying their air-minded sons.
Within the past month - to the day - senior Harrers have become grandparents 3 times. All of the new grandchildren are boys: all were born to members of the flying Harrer clan.
Heading the list of new arrivals was John Jerome Wallace, son of Lt. Jack Wallace and the former Dorothy Harrer, who was born July 6.
Next came Thomas Lee Harrer, son of Lt. Donald G. Harrer and the former Betty Hakes Loomis, who arrived July 9.
Sunday, the 3rd new Harrer appeared on the scene - the 6 pound 12 ounce son of Flight Officer Robert H. Harrer and the former Katherine Burke. He, as yet, is not officially named, since his grandparents were still trying Monday afternoon to get in touch with his father at Camp Maxon, N. Car., to obtain approval of the name his mother has tentatively chosen for him.
One might go so far as to say that the 3rd-generation Harrers are air-borne. Or might one?
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Tuesday, August 08, 1944, Page 10
ONE REACHES ENGLAND, OTHER GETS AIR MEDAL
F/O Robert G. Harrer has recently arrived overseas in England and his brother, Lt. Donald Harrer, war prisoner of the Germans now a year, has been awarded the air medal.
Robert has just received a brief orientation course designed to help him adjust himself to life in a combat zone, and was soon to be transferred to his permanent station from which America's fighting planes cover the advance in Germany, it was stated in a communication received here from a U. S. strategic air force station in England.
Announcement of Donald being awarded the air medal was received from the war department recently and the decoration was sent here to his wife, Mrs. Betty Hakes Harrer. Donald is in the German prison camp, Stalag Luft No. 1 in the Baltic area. The last letter received from him was dated Nov. 24. In a letter written previously, dated Oct. 18, he mentioned that he had just received the pictures and news of his baby son born last July. A cablegram sent in July had never reached him but he was the "happiest man in Kriegland" upon receiving the news and pictures, he had written.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Wednesday, February 14, 1946, Page 14
Robert George Harrer was born Apr. 15, 1918 to George Henry and Catherine Cecelia Grady Harrer. He died Nov. 14, 1985 and is buried in Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery,, Mason City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
