He remains buried in France.
Lt. Victor H. Idol, Jr., lived on Hunter Street in Madison with his parents and brother. Vic's father was the president of the Bank of Madison and his mother was one of the local Pratt sisters. Vic as a teen, moderately chafed at being the bank president's son. In a small town, that meant he always had to be exemplary when he wanted to "play in the dirt" like all his friends. His parents set the tone of decorum and etiquette in the town and in the Methodist Church. Vic felt restrained, always in a mold that his parents expected him to fill, without being rebellious or resentful.
He graduated in the 1937 class at Madison High School and was accepted at West Point but left early in his first year. His alternative was VMI for half a year. Then he enrolled at High Point College where his relatives could keep watch on him. After a quarter, he was accepted at North Carolina State College in Raleigh, committed to a degree in electrical engineering. His vacillating first year was difficult for his parents to explain but everyone in Madison was interested, if only for the gossip.
In late 1939 he began taking instruction as a student pilot under a program of the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Vic received his private license to fly by May 1940 and in June, at the end of the school year, he left NC State, without a degree and no plans to return. The next year he attended an Air Corp Training School anticipating, like his friends, that a phony war in Europe would soon explode. This period hung like a shroud between Vic and his parents. On November 11, 1941, he enlisted in the regular Army. The day after Pearl Harbor, he was enrolled in an Airplane Mechanics Course as a private in the newly designated US Army Air Corp. He was soon in flight training in San Antonio, Texas.
By early 1943, Vic had been assigned to the 366th Squadron of the 358th Air Group flying the newly delivered P-47 Thunderbolt, the largest, heaviest, most expensive fighter aircraft in history. The squadron sailed for Europe in October. He began flying out of England but could not detail any action to his family. He did confess, "I have been to France and Holland and Germany and around and have seen a little excitement." The unit was transferred to RAF High Halden south of London, an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in preparation for the Normandy Landing. The 355th flew now regularly in its duel capacity as a fighter and a bomber. Each plane carried eight bombs and, on a mission, initially flew high cover to the bombers.
Because of the cloudy conditions, the 358th Air Group did not fly until the evening of June 6th, after the beachhead had been established. On June 10, Vic celebrated his 23rd birthday grounded by cloud cover. As the landing was complete, however, the P-47 became the workhorse as the Allies achieved control of the air and flew multiple daily missions.
On the afternoon of June 17th, the squadron, now flying out of a temporary landing field in France, encountered the first enemy aircraft since D-Day, about a dozen FW190s and ME 109s. Vick and Kittie Idol did not get the official report of the action of that day until June 30th, but through various connections they had already cobbled together many of the details.
It was one of Vic's girlfriends who got the first solid information. "Vic flew quit a bit that day and on the last mission he had one bomb and had a low dive bomb. It seems that he went down on the target and on pulling up [with the bomb still attached] the ship went hay wire – controls probably – and he went into a shuddering inverted skid. When it seemed the ship would next do something more violent Vic dropped out of the cockpit and used his silk. He had for a wingman a new boy from one of the other squadrons but I've talked to him and he says that Vic's chute was all right and he saw him float down almost to the ground. Vic landed in Enemy held territory and I hoped he might have escaped." It was a kind letter, guarded, detailed, but hopeful.
It was March 20, 1945 before the War Department, officially having assigned the status "Missing in Action," declared Vic "Killed in Action." Not until September did his parents hear from their nephew, Major Guy Simpson, that Vic had been killed by German SS troops after landing. The Germans were hiding in the woods on their retreat and they were in no mood to take prisoners.
Eventually, the Idols received several letters from the French town of Maringy and the Mayor reported, "I assure you that your son rests in friendly soil and that the graves of our liberators are the object of all the gratitude of my fellow citizens." There were pictures of a flag-waving memorial service at the Marigny Cemetery where Vic had been re-interred. The French, attracted by his parachute, had seen him land and the SS had shot him. The villagers temporarily buried his body nearby. A final photograph showed his stark white cross decorated by the village with a bouquet of roses and an American flag.
The military made arrangements to send home Vic's foot locker with his belongings. His father asked that they not include the bloody army belt his son was wearing when he was shot. He asked that not be sent because, "It would upset his mother." That footlocker and contents have been donated to the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (MARC) and are maintained today as part of their collection.
Vic never was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) which he qualified for with eight clusters on his Air Medal or was he promoted to Captain. He blamed his commander's bias. He was shot down on his 66th mission, credited with 167 hours of combat flying time over England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
(https://charlesrodenbough.wordpress.com/2022/03/22/heroes-of-two-wars-part-2/)
Lt. Victor H. Idol, Jr., lived on Hunter Street in Madison with his parents and brother. Vic's father was the president of the Bank of Madison and his mother was one of the local Pratt sisters. Vic as a teen, moderately chafed at being the bank president's son. In a small town, that meant he always had to be exemplary when he wanted to "play in the dirt" like all his friends. His parents set the tone of decorum and etiquette in the town and in the Methodist Church. Vic felt restrained, always in a mold that his parents expected him to fill, without being rebellious or resentful.
He graduated in the 1937 class at Madison High School and was accepted at West Point but left early in his first year. His alternative was VMI for half a year. Then he enrolled at High Point College where his relatives could keep watch on him. After a quarter, he was accepted at North Carolina State College in Raleigh, committed to a degree in electrical engineering. His vacillating first year was difficult for his parents to explain but everyone in Madison was interested, if only for the gossip.
In late 1939 he began taking instruction as a student pilot under a program of the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Vic received his private license to fly by May 1940 and in June, at the end of the school year, he left NC State, without a degree and no plans to return. The next year he attended an Air Corp Training School anticipating, like his friends, that a phony war in Europe would soon explode. This period hung like a shroud between Vic and his parents. On November 11, 1941, he enlisted in the regular Army. The day after Pearl Harbor, he was enrolled in an Airplane Mechanics Course as a private in the newly designated US Army Air Corp. He was soon in flight training in San Antonio, Texas.
By early 1943, Vic had been assigned to the 366th Squadron of the 358th Air Group flying the newly delivered P-47 Thunderbolt, the largest, heaviest, most expensive fighter aircraft in history. The squadron sailed for Europe in October. He began flying out of England but could not detail any action to his family. He did confess, "I have been to France and Holland and Germany and around and have seen a little excitement." The unit was transferred to RAF High Halden south of London, an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in preparation for the Normandy Landing. The 355th flew now regularly in its duel capacity as a fighter and a bomber. Each plane carried eight bombs and, on a mission, initially flew high cover to the bombers.
Because of the cloudy conditions, the 358th Air Group did not fly until the evening of June 6th, after the beachhead had been established. On June 10, Vic celebrated his 23rd birthday grounded by cloud cover. As the landing was complete, however, the P-47 became the workhorse as the Allies achieved control of the air and flew multiple daily missions.
On the afternoon of June 17th, the squadron, now flying out of a temporary landing field in France, encountered the first enemy aircraft since D-Day, about a dozen FW190s and ME 109s. Vick and Kittie Idol did not get the official report of the action of that day until June 30th, but through various connections they had already cobbled together many of the details.
It was one of Vic's girlfriends who got the first solid information. "Vic flew quit a bit that day and on the last mission he had one bomb and had a low dive bomb. It seems that he went down on the target and on pulling up [with the bomb still attached] the ship went hay wire – controls probably – and he went into a shuddering inverted skid. When it seemed the ship would next do something more violent Vic dropped out of the cockpit and used his silk. He had for a wingman a new boy from one of the other squadrons but I've talked to him and he says that Vic's chute was all right and he saw him float down almost to the ground. Vic landed in Enemy held territory and I hoped he might have escaped." It was a kind letter, guarded, detailed, but hopeful.
It was March 20, 1945 before the War Department, officially having assigned the status "Missing in Action," declared Vic "Killed in Action." Not until September did his parents hear from their nephew, Major Guy Simpson, that Vic had been killed by German SS troops after landing. The Germans were hiding in the woods on their retreat and they were in no mood to take prisoners.
Eventually, the Idols received several letters from the French town of Maringy and the Mayor reported, "I assure you that your son rests in friendly soil and that the graves of our liberators are the object of all the gratitude of my fellow citizens." There were pictures of a flag-waving memorial service at the Marigny Cemetery where Vic had been re-interred. The French, attracted by his parachute, had seen him land and the SS had shot him. The villagers temporarily buried his body nearby. A final photograph showed his stark white cross decorated by the village with a bouquet of roses and an American flag.
The military made arrangements to send home Vic's foot locker with his belongings. His father asked that they not include the bloody army belt his son was wearing when he was shot. He asked that not be sent because, "It would upset his mother." That footlocker and contents have been donated to the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (MARC) and are maintained today as part of their collection.
Vic never was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) which he qualified for with eight clusters on his Air Medal or was he promoted to Captain. He blamed his commander's bias. He was shot down on his 66th mission, credited with 167 hours of combat flying time over England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
(https://charlesrodenbough.wordpress.com/2022/03/22/heroes-of-two-wars-part-2/)
He remains buried in France.
Lt. Victor H. Idol, Jr., lived on Hunter Street in Madison with his parents and brother. Vic's father was the president of the Bank of Madison and his mother was one of the local Pratt sisters. Vic as a teen, moderately chafed at being the bank president's son. In a small town, that meant he always had to be exemplary when he wanted to "play in the dirt" like all his friends. His parents set the tone of decorum and etiquette in the town and in the Methodist Church. Vic felt restrained, always in a mold that his parents expected him to fill, without being rebellious or resentful.
He graduated in the 1937 class at Madison High School and was accepted at West Point but left early in his first year. His alternative was VMI for half a year. Then he enrolled at High Point College where his relatives could keep watch on him. After a quarter, he was accepted at North Carolina State College in Raleigh, committed to a degree in electrical engineering. His vacillating first year was difficult for his parents to explain but everyone in Madison was interested, if only for the gossip.
In late 1939 he began taking instruction as a student pilot under a program of the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Vic received his private license to fly by May 1940 and in June, at the end of the school year, he left NC State, without a degree and no plans to return. The next year he attended an Air Corp Training School anticipating, like his friends, that a phony war in Europe would soon explode. This period hung like a shroud between Vic and his parents. On November 11, 1941, he enlisted in the regular Army. The day after Pearl Harbor, he was enrolled in an Airplane Mechanics Course as a private in the newly designated US Army Air Corp. He was soon in flight training in San Antonio, Texas.
By early 1943, Vic had been assigned to the 366th Squadron of the 358th Air Group flying the newly delivered P-47 Thunderbolt, the largest, heaviest, most expensive fighter aircraft in history. The squadron sailed for Europe in October. He began flying out of England but could not detail any action to his family. He did confess, "I have been to France and Holland and Germany and around and have seen a little excitement." The unit was transferred to RAF High Halden south of London, an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in preparation for the Normandy Landing. The 355th flew now regularly in its duel capacity as a fighter and a bomber. Each plane carried eight bombs and, on a mission, initially flew high cover to the bombers.
Because of the cloudy conditions, the 358th Air Group did not fly until the evening of June 6th, after the beachhead had been established. On June 10, Vic celebrated his 23rd birthday grounded by cloud cover. As the landing was complete, however, the P-47 became the workhorse as the Allies achieved control of the air and flew multiple daily missions.
On the afternoon of June 17th, the squadron, now flying out of a temporary landing field in France, encountered the first enemy aircraft since D-Day, about a dozen FW190s and ME 109s. Vick and Kittie Idol did not get the official report of the action of that day until June 30th, but through various connections they had already cobbled together many of the details.
It was one of Vic's girlfriends who got the first solid information. "Vic flew quit a bit that day and on the last mission he had one bomb and had a low dive bomb. It seems that he went down on the target and on pulling up [with the bomb still attached] the ship went hay wire – controls probably – and he went into a shuddering inverted skid. When it seemed the ship would next do something more violent Vic dropped out of the cockpit and used his silk. He had for a wingman a new boy from one of the other squadrons but I've talked to him and he says that Vic's chute was all right and he saw him float down almost to the ground. Vic landed in Enemy held territory and I hoped he might have escaped." It was a kind letter, guarded, detailed, but hopeful.
It was March 20, 1945 before the War Department, officially having assigned the status "Missing in Action," declared Vic "Killed in Action." Not until September did his parents hear from their nephew, Major Guy Simpson, that Vic had been killed by German SS troops after landing. The Germans were hiding in the woods on their retreat and they were in no mood to take prisoners.
Eventually, the Idols received several letters from the French town of Maringy and the Mayor reported, "I assure you that your son rests in friendly soil and that the graves of our liberators are the object of all the gratitude of my fellow citizens." There were pictures of a flag-waving memorial service at the Marigny Cemetery where Vic had been re-interred. The French, attracted by his parachute, had seen him land and the SS had shot him. The villagers temporarily buried his body nearby. A final photograph showed his stark white cross decorated by the village with a bouquet of roses and an American flag.
The military made arrangements to send home Vic's foot locker with his belongings. His father asked that they not include the bloody army belt his son was wearing when he was shot. He asked that not be sent because, "It would upset his mother." That footlocker and contents have been donated to the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (MARC) and are maintained today as part of their collection.
Vic never was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) which he qualified for with eight clusters on his Air Medal or was he promoted to Captain. He blamed his commander's bias. He was shot down on his 66th mission, credited with 167 hours of combat flying time over England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
(https://charlesrodenbough.wordpress.com/2022/03/22/heroes-of-two-wars-part-2/)
Lt. Victor H. Idol, Jr., lived on Hunter Street in Madison with his parents and brother. Vic's father was the president of the Bank of Madison and his mother was one of the local Pratt sisters. Vic as a teen, moderately chafed at being the bank president's son. In a small town, that meant he always had to be exemplary when he wanted to "play in the dirt" like all his friends. His parents set the tone of decorum and etiquette in the town and in the Methodist Church. Vic felt restrained, always in a mold that his parents expected him to fill, without being rebellious or resentful.
He graduated in the 1937 class at Madison High School and was accepted at West Point but left early in his first year. His alternative was VMI for half a year. Then he enrolled at High Point College where his relatives could keep watch on him. After a quarter, he was accepted at North Carolina State College in Raleigh, committed to a degree in electrical engineering. His vacillating first year was difficult for his parents to explain but everyone in Madison was interested, if only for the gossip.
In late 1939 he began taking instruction as a student pilot under a program of the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Vic received his private license to fly by May 1940 and in June, at the end of the school year, he left NC State, without a degree and no plans to return. The next year he attended an Air Corp Training School anticipating, like his friends, that a phony war in Europe would soon explode. This period hung like a shroud between Vic and his parents. On November 11, 1941, he enlisted in the regular Army. The day after Pearl Harbor, he was enrolled in an Airplane Mechanics Course as a private in the newly designated US Army Air Corp. He was soon in flight training in San Antonio, Texas.
By early 1943, Vic had been assigned to the 366th Squadron of the 358th Air Group flying the newly delivered P-47 Thunderbolt, the largest, heaviest, most expensive fighter aircraft in history. The squadron sailed for Europe in October. He began flying out of England but could not detail any action to his family. He did confess, "I have been to France and Holland and Germany and around and have seen a little excitement." The unit was transferred to RAF High Halden south of London, an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in preparation for the Normandy Landing. The 355th flew now regularly in its duel capacity as a fighter and a bomber. Each plane carried eight bombs and, on a mission, initially flew high cover to the bombers.
Because of the cloudy conditions, the 358th Air Group did not fly until the evening of June 6th, after the beachhead had been established. On June 10, Vic celebrated his 23rd birthday grounded by cloud cover. As the landing was complete, however, the P-47 became the workhorse as the Allies achieved control of the air and flew multiple daily missions.
On the afternoon of June 17th, the squadron, now flying out of a temporary landing field in France, encountered the first enemy aircraft since D-Day, about a dozen FW190s and ME 109s. Vick and Kittie Idol did not get the official report of the action of that day until June 30th, but through various connections they had already cobbled together many of the details.
It was one of Vic's girlfriends who got the first solid information. "Vic flew quit a bit that day and on the last mission he had one bomb and had a low dive bomb. It seems that he went down on the target and on pulling up [with the bomb still attached] the ship went hay wire – controls probably – and he went into a shuddering inverted skid. When it seemed the ship would next do something more violent Vic dropped out of the cockpit and used his silk. He had for a wingman a new boy from one of the other squadrons but I've talked to him and he says that Vic's chute was all right and he saw him float down almost to the ground. Vic landed in Enemy held territory and I hoped he might have escaped." It was a kind letter, guarded, detailed, but hopeful.
It was March 20, 1945 before the War Department, officially having assigned the status "Missing in Action," declared Vic "Killed in Action." Not until September did his parents hear from their nephew, Major Guy Simpson, that Vic had been killed by German SS troops after landing. The Germans were hiding in the woods on their retreat and they were in no mood to take prisoners.
Eventually, the Idols received several letters from the French town of Maringy and the Mayor reported, "I assure you that your son rests in friendly soil and that the graves of our liberators are the object of all the gratitude of my fellow citizens." There were pictures of a flag-waving memorial service at the Marigny Cemetery where Vic had been re-interred. The French, attracted by his parachute, had seen him land and the SS had shot him. The villagers temporarily buried his body nearby. A final photograph showed his stark white cross decorated by the village with a bouquet of roses and an American flag.
The military made arrangements to send home Vic's foot locker with his belongings. His father asked that they not include the bloody army belt his son was wearing when he was shot. He asked that not be sent because, "It would upset his mother." That footlocker and contents have been donated to the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (MARC) and are maintained today as part of their collection.
Vic never was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) which he qualified for with eight clusters on his Air Medal or was he promoted to Captain. He blamed his commander's bias. He was shot down on his 66th mission, credited with 167 hours of combat flying time over England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
(https://charlesrodenbough.wordpress.com/2022/03/22/heroes-of-two-wars-part-2/)
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF
Pilot - 1st Lt 9th Air Force USA
Died over La Haye Du Puits, France on his 65th Mission
Buried in U.S. Military Cemetery, St. James, France
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