2nd Lt. George Wendel Kaspar was born in Forest Park, Illinois, to Wendel and Bertha Kaspar, on August 27, 1921, and had a sister and brother. His family resided at 538 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, and he graduated from Grant White School, Forest Park, and Proviso Township High School, Maywood, in 1939. After high school, he worked at the A. M. Castle Steel Company in Chicago. On February 16, 1942, he registered with Selective Service and named his mother as his contact person. He married Germaine Vander Louis on December 1, 1942.
He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on August 23, 1942, and was sent to the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, Texas. He also trained at Ellington Field, Texas, and Saint Marcos Field, Texas. On October 23, 1943, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, received his wings, and issued his serial number O 696 103. His wife and he returned to Forest Park on furlough before he was sent to Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, for additional training. He then was sent to Biggs Field, Texas, in March 1944, for more training At some point, he was assigned to the 745th Bomb Squadron, 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 15th Air Force, as the navigator of B-24H, Serial Number 42-52309 which went overseas in December 1943. His crew went overseas as replacement for a lost crew.
The 456th first mission was on February 10, 1944, against installations Grottaferrata, Italy. It is not known when he joined the 754th, but during his time in the unit he flew 24 missions. George’s squadron was stationed at Stornara Field, Italy. On June 16, 1944, his plane took part in a mission against the Vienna Winter Hafen Oil Stage near Vienna, Austria. This was George’s twenty-fifth mission and last mission before he received rest and relaxation. During the mission George’s plane appears to have been hit by shrapnel from enemy ack-ack guns. While attempting to return to base, the plane crashed at about 10:40 am. Of the ten men on the plane, three members of the crew were able to bail out and were taken prisoner, The other seven men, including George, died in the crash near Galanta, Hungary. (It appears the plane was actually over Czechoslovakia.) According to the plane’s bombardier, 2nd Lt. Francis J. Nash who had bailed out of the plane, the plane had been on fire when it crashed. When he was captured by civilians, he was taken to the crash site, where the plane was burning, and told by the civilians that seven bodies were inside the plane. What is known is that two days later, June 18, 1944, the remains of the dead were removed from the plane, put in a wooden box, and buried in a common grave in the Horni Saliby Cemetery, Czechoslovakia. The grave was marked with a single cross with George’s name on it. The cemetery was located near a Protestant church.
Germaine Kaspar received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS GERMAINE KASPAR
1144 MONTANA STREET
CHICAGO ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE W KASPAR HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE SIXTEEN JUNE IN EUROPEAN AREA PERIOD IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY NOTIED PERIOD
ULIO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
The telegram was followed by a letter.
Mrs. Germaine Kaspar
1144 Montana Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Kaspar:
This letter is to confirm my recent telegram in which you were regretfully informed that your husband, Second Lieutenant George W. Kaspar, O, 696, 103, Air Corps, has been reported missing in action since 16 June 1944 over the European Area.
I know that added distress is caused by failure to receive some information or details. Therefore, I wish to assure you that at any time additional information is received it will be transmitted to you without delay, and, if in the meantime no additional information is received, I will again communicate with you at the expiration of three months. Also, it is the policy of the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces upon receipt of the “Missing Air Crews Report” to convey to you any details that might be contained in that report.
The term “missing in action” is used only to indicate that the whereabouts or status of an individual is not immediately known. It is not intended to convey the impression that the case in closed. I wish to emphasize that every effort is exerted continuously to clear up the status of our personnel. Under war conditions this is a difficult task as you must readily realize. Experience has shown that many persons reported missing in action are subsequently reported prisoners of war, but as this information is furnished by countries with which we are at war, the War Department is helpless to expedite such reports. However, in order to relieve financial worry, Congress has enacted legislation which contains in force pay, allowances and allotments to dependents of the personnel being carried in a missing status.
Permit me to extend to you my heartfelt sympathy during this period of uncertainty.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
J. A. ULIO
Major General
The Adjutant General.
A June 17, 1945, George was declared dead by the Office of the Adjutant General, Washington DC. His wife received a letter stating that June 17, 1944, was the presumptive date of death for George.
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service sent a team, on October 9, 1946, to recover the bodies of George’s crew at the cemetery. A map – drawn by the civilians who buried the crew – was used to locate the grave. After the remains were recovered, they were transported by car to Prague, Czechoslovakia. George’s remains were designated X-7979. His dental records were used to confirm his identification. From there, his casketed remains were transported to the United States Armed Forces Cemetery, Saint Avold, France and buried in Plot 0000, Row 1, Grave 8, on October 24, 1946.
Germaine Kaspar was sent a letter telling her where George was buried. She also received a letter telling her of the options she had on George’s final burial. She was asked to fill-out an enclosed form and return it to the OQMG in Washington. She returned the form and indicated that she wanted her husband to remain buried at St. Avold, France. She then received a final letter from the Office of the Quartermaster General, dated April 20, 1949, telling the location of her husband’s grave.
2nd Lt. George W. Karpar, ASN: O 696 103
Plot E, Row 24, Grave 40
Headstone: Cross
St. Avold (France) U. S. Military Cemetery
Mrs. Germaine M. Kaspar
1920 Humboldt Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will also have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington 25, D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of the cemetery.
While interment and beautification activities are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
