Hytrek: Nephew hopes for memorial at uncle's WWII crash site
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008
Paul Wikstrom never knew his uncle Francis Wikstrom.
Francis died years before Paul was born, yet the discrepancies in stories about the World War II training flight crash that claimed Francis' life caused Paul to want to know more.
Why? Call it duty to fill in the pages of the Wikstrom family history as completely as possible.
"I'd always done research of my uncles in World War II. The story around Francis was always a mystery to me," Paul said.
Francis' crash always held a special interest. Maybe because Paul shares a similar passion with his late uncle, who grew up in Ponca, Neb.
"I'm very curious about what happened because I'm a pilot."
Call it professional curiosity.
Whatever the reason, Paul traveled to Siouxland recently to visit the site southwest of Dakota City where, on Jan. 31, 1944, the C-29 transport plane that 2nd Lt. Francis Wikstrom was piloting crashed. Paul talked with local historians and witnesses about what they knew of the crash. He also began the steps to honor Uncle Francis and the two other crew members -- 2nd Lt. Robert Netterville, of Greenville, S.D., and 2nd Lt. Claude Phillips, of Indianapolis -- who died that night more than 63 years ago.
"My motivation is to get a sign erected eventually. I'd like to honor the sacrifice of the people that got killed in that crash," Paul said.
He's set up a fund at the Bank of Dixon County in Ponca to take donations to place a Nebraska State Historical Society plaque at or near the crash site. The estimated cost is $3,000-$4,000.
Paul doesn't have a lot of ties to the area. The Wikstrom family moved from Ponca after the war. Paul grew up in Montana, now lives in Shoreview, Minn., where he's an engineering manager at a firm that makes medical devices.
Yet Ponca is still part of the family. It's where Paul's grandparents raised his father, Primus, who was too young to serve in the war. But Primus' four older brothers did. World War II took a heavy toll on the Wikstrom family. In addition to losing Francis, a second son -- Verner -- was killed in Italy in 1945, days before the war ended.
When flying his private airplane into Sioux Gateway Airport two weeks ago, it occurred to Paul that he was likely landing on the same runway from which his uncle's fatal flight took off.
That flight captivates Wikstrom. Because it was a training crash, there isn't as much documentation as if it had been a combat fatality. This much is certain: Francis Wikstrom, an instructor pilot, and his crew took off on their training mission from their base in St. Joseph, Mo., landed at night at the Sioux City Air Base and spent a short time on the ground before lifting off for the return flight.
Original accounts say the plane exploded after takeoff. But after reviewing records and talking to people who witnessed the crash, Paul said it appears one of the plane's engines caught fire and his uncle had circled and was trying to return to Sioux City when the plane went down.
"It's a dramatically different version of what happened," Paul said. "I hope to build the story, find out exactly what happened."
He may never know exactly what happened, but that doesn't lessen the sacrifice of the three young men on board. Men, Paul said, who gave just as much to their country as the thousands who died in combat in the skies over Europe and the Pacific Ocean.
But it's time, he said, that their sacrifice is noted.
There is no question about that.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Wikstrom fund
A fund has been established at the Bank of Dixon County in Ponca, Neb., to collect donations for a plaque at or near the site of the Jan. 31, 1944, World War II training flight crash that claimed the life of Ponca native Francis Wikstrom.
To donate, send contributions to: WWII Sign, c/o Paul Wikstrom, Bank of Dixon County, P.O. Box 570, Ponca, NE 68770.
Francis died years before Paul was born, yet the discrepancies in stories about the World War II training flight crash that claimed Francis' life caused Paul to want to know more.
Why? Call it duty to fill in the pages of the Wikstrom family history as completely as possible.
"I'd always done research of my uncles in World War II. The story around Francis was always a mystery to me," Paul said.
Francis' crash always held a special interest. Maybe because Paul shares a similar passion with his late uncle, who grew up in Ponca, Neb.
"I'm very curious about what happened because I'm a pilot."
Call it professional curiosity.
Whatever the reason, Paul traveled to Siouxland recently to visit the site southwest of Dakota City where, on Jan. 31, 1944, the C-29 transport plane that 2nd Lt. Francis Wikstrom was piloting crashed. Paul talked with local historians and witnesses about what they knew of the crash. He also began the steps to honor Uncle Francis and the two other crew members -- 2nd Lt. Robert Netterville, of Greenville, S.D., and 2nd Lt. Claude Phillips, of Indianapolis -- who died that night more than 63 years ago.
"My motivation is to get a sign erected eventually. I'd like to honor the sacrifice of the people that got killed in that crash," Paul said.
He's set up a fund at the Bank of Dixon County in Ponca to take donations to place a Nebraska State Historical Society plaque at or near the crash site. The estimated cost is $3,000-$4,000.
Paul doesn't have a lot of ties to the area. The Wikstrom family moved from Ponca after the war. Paul grew up in Montana, now lives in Shoreview, Minn., where he's an engineering manager at a firm that makes medical devices.
Yet Ponca is still part of the family. It's where Paul's grandparents raised his father, Primus, who was too young to serve in the war. But Primus' four older brothers did. World War II took a heavy toll on the Wikstrom family. In addition to losing Francis, a second son -- Verner -- was killed in Italy in 1945, days before the war ended.
When flying his private airplane into Sioux Gateway Airport two weeks ago, it occurred to Paul that he was likely landing on the same runway from which his uncle's fatal flight took off.
That flight captivates Wikstrom. Because it was a training crash, there isn't as much documentation as if it had been a combat fatality. This much is certain: Francis Wikstrom, an instructor pilot, and his crew took off on their training mission from their base in St. Joseph, Mo., landed at night at the Sioux City Air Base and spent a short time on the ground before lifting off for the return flight.
Original accounts say the plane exploded after takeoff. But after reviewing records and talking to people who witnessed the crash, Paul said it appears one of the plane's engines caught fire and his uncle had circled and was trying to return to Sioux City when the plane went down.
"It's a dramatically different version of what happened," Paul said. "I hope to build the story, find out exactly what happened."
He may never know exactly what happened, but that doesn't lessen the sacrifice of the three young men on board. Men, Paul said, who gave just as much to their country as the thousands who died in combat in the skies over Europe and the Pacific Ocean.
But it's time, he said, that their sacrifice is noted.
There is no question about that.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Wikstrom fund
A fund has been established at the Bank of Dixon County in Ponca, Neb., to collect donations for a plaque at or near the site of the Jan. 31, 1944, World War II training flight crash that claimed the life of Ponca native Francis Wikstrom.
To donate, send contributions to: WWII Sign, c/o Paul Wikstrom, Bank of Dixon County, P.O. Box 570, Ponca, NE 68770.
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