Sioux Falls in Minnehaha County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Forgotten Heroes
March 26, 2022
1. Forgotten Heroes Marker (Side one)
Side one:
Two "flying classroom" Lockheed twin engine AT-18 medium bombers collided in midair above the Sioux Falls Army Air Force Base December 8, 1944. Three crewmen, four students on board, and three students in a barracks below were killed. In memory of:
1st Lt. Paul Currey, 23, MA
Staff Sgt. James Simmons, 26, IL
Cpl. Frank M. Bogdan, 18, PA
Cpl. Thomas F. Hart, Jr., 26, MA
Pfc. Orville J. Spellman, 21, OH
Pvt. Richard J. Barber, 18, IL
Pvt. Martin Bricker, 18, NJ
Pvt. Edward M. Gregory, 18, TN
Pvt. Kent R. Rhodes, 20, KA
Pvt. Floyd Terral, 24, LA
Side two:
Eleven European Theater veteran airmen stationed at the Sioux Falls Army Air Force Base died during a night training exercise August 25, 1945. Flying in formation, the lead plane of two B-24 bombers collided with a mountain near Elgin, OR. In memory of:
1st Lt. Jerome Kagel, 20, NY
1st Lt. Carleton H. Keeler, 22, MA
2nd Lt. Geo. Oesterreicher, 25, WI
2nd Lt. Robert B. Wright, AL
T. Sgt. F.G. Emmelmann, 22, IN
Staff Sgt. Robert B. Walters, IL
Sgt. Arthur H. Brundahl,
this page online
Sgt. Berkley G. Fletcher, 28, IA
Sgt. Troy R. Frazier, 23, KY
Sgt. Anthony P. Lupisella, 20, MA
Sgt. Marlo M. Pickell, 20, IA
Erected 2008 by the Minnehaha County Historical Society in memory of Staff Sgt. Wayne Whiting and in honor of Cpl. Hank O'Hagan.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is December 8, 1944.
Location. 43° 34.219′ N, 96° 44.226′ W. Marker is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in Minnehaha County. Marker is on West Algonquin Street, 0.1 miles east of F Avenue North, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 821 W Algonquin St, Sioux Falls SD 57104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Municipal Airport (here, next to this marker); Massacre Site (here, next to this marker); Stratosphere Balloonist (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bomber Rams Skyscraper (approx. ¼ mile away); Liberty Tree (approx. 0.6 miles away); Midair Collision (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans' Memorial Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Going Home (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sioux Falls.
March 26, 2022
2. Forgotten Heroes Marker (Side two)
March 26, 2022
3. Forgotten Heroes Marker (left), from the east
March 26, 2022
4. Forgotten Heroes Marker, from the west
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2022. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 30, 2022.
