Milton Albert Blaul
Born: May 26th, 1915
Died: October 2nd, 1942
Obituary
First Lieut. Milton A Blaul, Jr., army air force pilot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton A Blaul, a Burlington, and seven other men were killed in the crash of an army plane at Hondo, Tex., Friday night.
Four other army officers, two non-commissioned men, and a civilian died in the crash, and flames from the plane destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Merriman, who were away at the time of the accident.
No details of the plane tragedy were received over Associated Press wires or in an official telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Blaul announcing the pilot’s death.
Blaul was regarded as a crack flyer and recently gained wide recognition for landing his ship on one wheel at a Texas flying field, without injuries or appreciable damage.
He was born in Burlington on May 26, 1915, and graduated from Burlington grade and high schools. Later he attended Grinnell College, the State University of Iowa, and Park’s air college in St. Louis, Mo.
Upon enlisting in the army air force Blaul was in training first at Randolph Field, Tex., and later at Kelly field, where he received his wings Nov. 15, 1940. He was promoted to first lieutenant a few months ago.
At the time of his death, he was a junior commanding officer of the 837th school squadron, army air force navigation school at Hondo.
Blaul was united in marriage at Burlington Dec. 28, 1940, with Patricia Churchill of this city, and they have made their home at San Antonio, Tex., where Blaul was stationed prior to a recent transfer to Hondo.
They were the parents of a son, Arthur Churchill, born Sept. 17, this year, and Mrs. Blaul returned to her home from the hospital but a few days ago. Her mother, Mrs. WN Churchill of Burlington, is with her now.
Surviving are his widow and son; his parents in Burlington and one sister Mrs. James P. Blaul, Minneapolis, Minn.
Mrs. Patricia Blaul wired Mr. and Mrs. Milton Blaul this morning that her doctor has advised she should remain at home for a couple of weeks, and she probably will not attend funeral services with will be held in Burlington at a time to be announced later.
The body will be brought here with military escort.
Funeral services for Lt. Milton A Blaul Jr., 27, killed when the training plane he was piloting crashed Friday night at Hondo, Tex., taking the lives of seven other crew members, will be held in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Milton A. Blaul, at 4 pm Wednesday. Rev. Bruce Masselink, pastor of the First Congregational church, will officiate at military services.
The body will arrive here Wednesday accompanied by Lt. Francis X. Dalton
Burial will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery.