Hornick Lieutenant Fighter Plane Pilot, Missing Over Italy
Hornick, Ia.—Special: Lt. Lael Cheely, 23, son of Mrs. S. F. Hartz of Hornick, has been missing in action in Italy since April 11, according to a message received Sunday by his mother from the War Department. He was a pilot of a Black Widow night fighter plane.
Lt. Cheely was graduated from Hornick high school in 1939 and entered the service March 3, 1943. He received his wings April 16, 1944, at Luke Field, Ariz., and went overseas about two months ago.
He was a student at the University of Iowa when entering the service. A sister, Mrs. John Litecky, resides at 823 Douglas street in Sioux City.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 23, 1945
Lael Milton Cheely was born Mar. 3, 1922 to Everett and Ardis Woolsey Cheely. He died Apr. 11, 1945 and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.
2nd Lt. Cheely served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 414th Night Fighter Squadron and was MIA/KIA in Italy.
Source: ancestry.com
