(from unknown source) Major Theodore E. Willhite, son of Mrs. Ivy Willhite, 1108 Iowa avenue, was killed in action in the Italian theater of war while on a bombing mission over France on March 11, a message from the war department disclosed. His wife lives in Centralia, Wash. He had served with Major Jimmie Doolittle's command. He enlisted prior to Pearl Harbor and received his wings at Randolph Field, Tex. in March, 1941. * father was Edward Cleveland Willhite.
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U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-406074
Entered the Service from: Iowa
Headquarters, 451st Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Theodore E. Willhite is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Clarke County, Iowa.
***I would like to thank Andy Find A Grave ID 48021049 for adding his photos to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Doc Wilson Find A Grave ID 47464039 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Jon Strupp Find A Grave ID 47635671 for updating the middle name information on this memorial***
***I would like to thank RAYMOND TAMOWSKI Find A Grave ID 47323485 for adding his photos to this memorial***
***I would like to thank usafdo Find A Grave ID for adding their photos and the information listed below to this memorial in addition to updating the death location information on it***
PRESS RELEASE | Jan. 16, 2024
Pilot Accounted for from WWII (Willhite, Theodore.)
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Major Theodore Willhite, 26, of Muscatine, Iowa, killed during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 19, 2023.
In March of 1944, Willhite was assigned to the 724th Bombardment Squadron, 451st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations. On Mar 11, Willhite was piloting a B-24 "Liberator," when it was struck by anti-aircraft fire after a bombing raid on a German position near Toulon, France. Eyewitnesses on another B-24 reported seeing Willhite's aircraft spinning out of control at approximately 3000 feet before breaking apart and crashing into the sea. All 11 crewmembers aboard the aircraft were lost in the incident and not identified following the war.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil
(from unknown source) Major Theodore E. Willhite, son of Mrs. Ivy Willhite, 1108 Iowa avenue, was killed in action in the Italian theater of war while on a bombing mission over France on March 11, a message from the war department disclosed. His wife lives in Centralia, Wash. He had served with Major Jimmie Doolittle's command. He enlisted prior to Pearl Harbor and received his wings at Randolph Field, Tex. in March, 1941. * father was Edward Cleveland Willhite.
**********************************************
U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-406074
Entered the Service from: Iowa
Headquarters, 451st Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Theodore E. Willhite is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Clarke County, Iowa.
***I would like to thank Andy Find A Grave ID 48021049 for adding his photos to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Doc Wilson Find A Grave ID 47464039 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Jon Strupp Find A Grave ID 47635671 for updating the middle name information on this memorial***
***I would like to thank RAYMOND TAMOWSKI Find A Grave ID 47323485 for adding his photos to this memorial***
***I would like to thank usafdo Find A Grave ID for adding their photos and the information listed below to this memorial in addition to updating the death location information on it***
PRESS RELEASE | Jan. 16, 2024
Pilot Accounted for from WWII (Willhite, Theodore.)
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Major Theodore Willhite, 26, of Muscatine, Iowa, killed during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 19, 2023.
In March of 1944, Willhite was assigned to the 724th Bombardment Squadron, 451st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations. On Mar 11, Willhite was piloting a B-24 "Liberator," when it was struck by anti-aircraft fire after a bombing raid on a German position near Toulon, France. Eyewitnesses on another B-24 reported seeing Willhite's aircraft spinning out of control at approximately 3000 feet before breaking apart and crashing into the sea. All 11 crewmembers aboard the aircraft were lost in the incident and not identified following the war.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil
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WILLHITE THEODORE E MAJ HQ SQ 451 BOMB GP (H) IOWA
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