Chester Holstrom
Date of Birth: October 15, 1905 (source: death certificate, tombstone has September 15, 1905)
Place of Birth: Escanaba, Delta Co., Michigan
Father and Mother’s Names: Anders F. "Andrew" Holmstrom and Anna Kristina (Jaderberg) Holmstrom
Date of Enlistment: TBD
Service Branch: Army Air Corps
Rank/Specialty: Technician Sergeant
Service ID: 37157462
Division/Company/Unit info: 3010th Army Air Forces Base Unit, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona.
Riley Connection: Chester lived in Ogden, Kansas from 1938-1941
Date of Death (and Age): DNB (Deceased Non-Battle) September 24, 1944 (age 38).
Place of Death: 6 miles NW of Alpine, Brewster Co., Texas.
Grave Location: Rapid River Cemetery, Rapid River, Delta Co., Michigan.
Born in Escanaba, Delta Co., Michigan to Anders F. and Anna Kristina Holmstrom. By 1930, Chester and parents left Michigan and were living in Kansas City, Missouri. Chester was a chauffer for an oil company. He then moved to Ogden, Kansas by 1938. Chester joined the Army Air Corps and became a Technician Sergeant attached to the 3010th Army Air Forces Base Unit, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona. Chester died in a tragic two plane collision as described below:
Died in an airplane crash 6 miles N.W. Alpine, Texas, Brewster County, Texas. Excerpt from September 26, 1944 edition of Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, Page 10 (courtesy of Newspapers.com).
Two army training planes from Williams Field, Arizona, collided yesterday six miles north of Alpine, Texas, killing four men, Marfa Army Air field officials said last night. Wreckage of the planes were found today, 50 yards apart, by searchers from Pyote Army air field. Two of the dead were listed as 2nd Lt. Charles S. Rhodes, 24, Chandler, Arizona, and Sgt. Chester Holstrom, Kansas City, Kansas. The planes were part of a three-ship formation and ran into bad weather on their way from Big Spring, Texas, to Williams Field. The pilot of the third plane landed safely at Pyote air field. Chester's body was sent back to Michigan and was buried on September 30, 1944 at the Rapid River Cemetery, Rapid River, Delta Co., Michigan.
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