LIST SPARBOE AS ‘DECEASED’
Naval Flier, Former City Resident, Missing Since Aug., 1942.
Lieut. Com. Jerome H. Sparboe, former Webster City resident and son of one of Hamilton county’s leading citizens of two decades ago, has been definitely given up for lost by the United States navy, according to word received here by Judge O. J. Henderson.
Sparboe, a civilian pilot in peace time entered the navy at the outbreak of hostilities and soon became a squadron commander. He headed a flight of ships to Kodiak, Alaska, and all arrived safely. But on the return trip he radioed to his companions that ship was icing badly and he was going down. That was on August 16, 1942. He was never heard from again.
His mother, Mrs. Gertrude M. Sparboe, of Hopkins, Minn., has received official notice from Secretary Frank Knox that with the passage of a year he must be considered officially dead.
The missing flier’s father, H. M. Sparboe, was a mayor of Webster City for several terms, and one of this community’s leading citizens. Jerome was very well known here and the family has a great many friends in Hamilton county.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, September 15, 1943
Jerome Hartvig Sparboe, Lieutenant Commander U.S. Navy - MIA/KIA
Jerome Hartvig Sparboe was born Jan. 21, 1904 to Hartvig M. and Gertrude Sparboe. He died Aug. 17, 1943, and is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, HI.
He was reported missing in action Aug. 16, 1942. He was officially declared as dead on Aug. 17, 1943. He was a squadron commander heading a flight of ships to Kodiak, Alaska. They all arrived safely but on the return trip he radioed that his ship was icing badly and he was going down. He was never heard from again.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
