Local Pilot Among
First in Normandy
One of the first two American pilots to land in France after the invasion was Lt. Alva D. Bessey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey of Alpine township, according to a United Press dispatch Wednesday which said the two flyers landed by accident on a British airstrip in Normandy.
Two Thunderbolt fighter planes which screamed low over the British sector after blowing up bridges, machine-gunning German transport and straling enemy infantry, were running out of gas.
"Then we saw an airstrip with Spitfires and we came down and found ourselves shaking hands with the RAF", said Lt. Harry Stroh of Washington, one of the pilots.
"It was a lucky day for us," agreed Lt. Bessey, pilot of the second plane.
Lt. Bessey was commissioned last November and had been overseas only a few months.
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 14, 1944
*********************************
Flyers, Infantrymen Listed
A Grand Rapids fighter pilot who was one of the first two American flyers actually to land his plane in France after the invasion is missing in action. So is another Grand Rapids Flyer, a Thunderbolt pilot whose overseas achievements since March had won him the air medal and a promotion.
Lt. Alva D. Bessey, 24, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey, live in Alpine township, disappeared on combat flight over France June 22, they have been advised about two weeks after his forced landing, for lack of gas, on the fringe of the just-won invasion beachhead in Normandy. Last letter from him was dated June 21. At that time he had completed 33 missions over enemy territory as a P47 pilot. He was a graduate of Union High school and worked for the National Brass Co.
He received his commission last. November.
Abbreviated Article
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 12, 1944
First in Normandy
One of the first two American pilots to land in France after the invasion was Lt. Alva D. Bessey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey of Alpine township, according to a United Press dispatch Wednesday which said the two flyers landed by accident on a British airstrip in Normandy.
Two Thunderbolt fighter planes which screamed low over the British sector after blowing up bridges, machine-gunning German transport and straling enemy infantry, were running out of gas.
"Then we saw an airstrip with Spitfires and we came down and found ourselves shaking hands with the RAF", said Lt. Harry Stroh of Washington, one of the pilots.
"It was a lucky day for us," agreed Lt. Bessey, pilot of the second plane.
Lt. Bessey was commissioned last November and had been overseas only a few months.
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 14, 1944
*********************************
Flyers, Infantrymen Listed
A Grand Rapids fighter pilot who was one of the first two American flyers actually to land his plane in France after the invasion is missing in action. So is another Grand Rapids Flyer, a Thunderbolt pilot whose overseas achievements since March had won him the air medal and a promotion.
Lt. Alva D. Bessey, 24, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey, live in Alpine township, disappeared on combat flight over France June 22, they have been advised about two weeks after his forced landing, for lack of gas, on the fringe of the just-won invasion beachhead in Normandy. Last letter from him was dated June 21. At that time he had completed 33 missions over enemy territory as a P47 pilot. He was a graduate of Union High school and worked for the National Brass Co.
He received his commission last. November.
Abbreviated Article
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 12, 1944
Local Pilot Among
First in Normandy
One of the first two American pilots to land in France after the invasion was Lt. Alva D. Bessey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey of Alpine township, according to a United Press dispatch Wednesday which said the two flyers landed by accident on a British airstrip in Normandy.
Two Thunderbolt fighter planes which screamed low over the British sector after blowing up bridges, machine-gunning German transport and straling enemy infantry, were running out of gas.
"Then we saw an airstrip with Spitfires and we came down and found ourselves shaking hands with the RAF", said Lt. Harry Stroh of Washington, one of the pilots.
"It was a lucky day for us," agreed Lt. Bessey, pilot of the second plane.
Lt. Bessey was commissioned last November and had been overseas only a few months.
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 14, 1944
*********************************
Flyers, Infantrymen Listed
A Grand Rapids fighter pilot who was one of the first two American flyers actually to land his plane in France after the invasion is missing in action. So is another Grand Rapids Flyer, a Thunderbolt pilot whose overseas achievements since March had won him the air medal and a promotion.
Lt. Alva D. Bessey, 24, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey, live in Alpine township, disappeared on combat flight over France June 22, they have been advised about two weeks after his forced landing, for lack of gas, on the fringe of the just-won invasion beachhead in Normandy. Last letter from him was dated June 21. At that time he had completed 33 missions over enemy territory as a P47 pilot. He was a graduate of Union High school and worked for the National Brass Co.
He received his commission last. November.
Abbreviated Article
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 12, 1944
First in Normandy
One of the first two American pilots to land in France after the invasion was Lt. Alva D. Bessey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey of Alpine township, according to a United Press dispatch Wednesday which said the two flyers landed by accident on a British airstrip in Normandy.
Two Thunderbolt fighter planes which screamed low over the British sector after blowing up bridges, machine-gunning German transport and straling enemy infantry, were running out of gas.
"Then we saw an airstrip with Spitfires and we came down and found ourselves shaking hands with the RAF", said Lt. Harry Stroh of Washington, one of the pilots.
"It was a lucky day for us," agreed Lt. Bessey, pilot of the second plane.
Lt. Bessey was commissioned last November and had been overseas only a few months.
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 14, 1944
*********************************
Flyers, Infantrymen Listed
A Grand Rapids fighter pilot who was one of the first two American flyers actually to land his plane in France after the invasion is missing in action. So is another Grand Rapids Flyer, a Thunderbolt pilot whose overseas achievements since March had won him the air medal and a promotion.
Lt. Alva D. Bessey, 24, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bessey, live in Alpine township, disappeared on combat flight over France June 22, they have been advised about two weeks after his forced landing, for lack of gas, on the fringe of the just-won invasion beachhead in Normandy. Last letter from him was dated June 21. At that time he had completed 33 missions over enemy territory as a P47 pilot. He was a graduate of Union High school and worked for the National Brass Co.
He received his commission last. November.
Abbreviated Article
Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 12, 1944
Inscription
KILLED IN FRANCE
