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| Recent Address: |
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415 5th St. S.W., Orange City, IA 51041
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| Email: |
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: George and Allie; Brother: Elmer (twin)
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| Hometown: |
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Edgerton, MN
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| Date Entered Service: |
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September 29, 1942
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| Service Number: |
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37263470
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| Bomb Group: |
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468th
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| Squadron: |
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794th
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| Location of Unit: |
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Salina, KS 1943
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| Missions Flown: |
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Many, but do not have records. Records show 169.25 operational hours flown and 224.5 combat hours.
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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Many, but do not have records
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| Targets: |
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Do not have records
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, 4 Battle Stars, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Theater Service Medal.
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Army Training School, Sheppard Field, TX 19 weeks; Pratt & Witney Factory School, Detroit, MI 6 weeks; AAF Training School, Lowery Field, CO 6 weeks
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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Airplane Mechanic, Aerial Mechanic Gunner
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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Technical Sergeant
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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Last plane flown was not named
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| Were you a POW? |
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Yes
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| If so, where? |
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Tokyo
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| Were you interned? |
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Yes
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| If so, where? |
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Kempe Tei, Tokyo
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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April 13, 1946
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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April 13, 1946
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
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Mechanic; postal worker
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
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War is devastating, but sometimes necessary to save our freedom. I have satisfaction and pride in what we accomplished.
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| Comments: |
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The cost was high. My POW experience taught me the value of our free country. I also experienced the loss of my twin brother in the loss of his plane 5 months previous to my capture.
Mr. Jelgerhuis passed away on December 14, 2007 in Orange City, Iowa.
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