Your Neighbors in the
ARMED SERVICES
What They Are Doing
Hilmar Germaine Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 Twenty-fifth street southwest, left Thursday morning for Des Moines from which he was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for primary training in the U. S. army air corps.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, February 04, 1943, Page 3
Your Neighbors in the
ARMED SERVICES
What They Are Doing
Aviation Student Hilmar G. Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 Twenty-fifth street southwest, is stationed at the State Teachers’ college, East Claire, Wis.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, April 30, 1943, Page 3
Your Neighbors in the
KHAKI and BLUE
What They Are Doing
Whereabouts
Hilmar G. Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th street S. W., is taking his basic training as an aviation cadet at Sequoia field, Vizalia, Cal. Erickson began his work at Eau Claire, Wis., and later was sent to the Santa Ana replacement center in California. Aviation Cadet Erickson is a graduate of the Mason City high school and attended the junior college here.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, October 19, 1943, Page 8
Your Neighbors in the
KHAKI and BLUE
What They Are Doing
Whereabouts
Aviation Cadet Hilmar G. Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th S. W., has been transferred from Sequoia field, Cal., to Tucson, Ariz., for further training with the army air forces.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, December 20, 1943, Page 8
Your Neighbors in the
KHAKI and BLUE
What They Are Doing
Whereabouts
Aviation Cadet Hilmar G. Erickson completed the basic flying training course. Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th S. W., was graduated from the Narana army air field, Tucson, Ariz., and will now go to an advanced flying school to complete his training.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, February 15, 1944, Page 3
BITS ABOUT ‘EM
Mrs. Marvin Burchell has left for her home in Pasadena, Cal., after spending a short vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th S.W. She was accompanied here by her brother, Lt. Hilmar G. Erickson whose graduation she attended April 15 at Luke Field, Ariz. He has a 15-day leave. Mrs. Burchell is time keeper for the Lockheed airplane factory and will return to her duties there Monday.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 1944, Page 9
Lt. Erickson, M.C. Athlete, in England
Fighter Pilot Second Lt. Hilmar G. Erickson, known to Mohawk football and baseball fans as “Sunny” Erickson, has arrived in England, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th street S. W.
“I’m in England but for how long I don’t know. The first time I saw the country it was beautiful. It didn’t look like it was at war at all. It reminds me a lot of home and around Decorah. It was early morning and the sun came up over the green hills and there were a lot of small clean farms all over. The fields were separated by hedges or iron fence,” he commented.
Erickson mentioned he had met several Mason City boys.
“I met Bill Taylor (former J. C. student) and we played football together. I feel like I did the first week of fall football at home. We had a good talk after we finished play. I see him around quite often.”
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, September 07, 1944, Page 17 (photo included)
Lt. Hilmar Erickson With 9th Air Force
in Range of Germany
Second Lt. Hilmar G. Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th S. W., is with the 9th air force, all planes of which, according to an AP story from headquarters in France, are now operating from bases on the European continent within range of Germany. Lt. Erickson, who has been in England since Aug. 1, moved to France just recently. The 9th air force is the largest tactical air force in the world, according to the story.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, October 09, 1944, Page 14
Lt. “Sunny” Erickson Shoots
His First German Fockewolfe
Downs German Plane With Two Turns
of His P-47 Fighter
A 9th Air Force Fighter Base, Belgium – It took 2 360-degree turns for 2nd Lt. Hilmar G. Erickson, Mason City P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot, to shoot down his first German plane, a Focke-Wolfe 190, recently.
“We met head-on. I broke around into him again and followed through 2 360-degree turns, and fired my guns on the last turn. He did a split-S to get away. I followed and saw the pilot bail out and his plane crashed on the outskirts of Cologne,” he related.
Lt. Erickson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 25th S. W., Mason City. He flies with the “Holt Hun Hunters” of the 9th air force, recipient of a war department citation for air support to ground troops in Normandy.
(Lt. Erickson, Mohawk football and baseball athlete, will be remembered as “Sunny” Erickson.)
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, February 02, 1945, Page 4
“Good Boy Doing Good Job,”
Says Commanding General
“He is a good boy and is doing a good job.”
That was a postscript added by Fist Lt. Hilmar Erickson’s commanding general in a personal letter sent here to the lieutenant’s father, Louis Erickson, 228 25th S. W., telling of having presented the air medal to the lieutenant in Belgium.
“I have recently had the honor of presenting the air medal to your son, Hilmar,” wrote the general. “He received this decoration for meritorious achievement while participating in missions over enemy territory. In all those missions Hilmar displayed courage and skill which reflected high credit upon himself and armed forces of his country.
“I take a great deal of pleasure in notifying you personally of his success and to congratulate you, his father, upon having such a fine son, who is doing so much for his country,” concluded the commanding general.
Lt. Erickson flies a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and was recently mentioned in a story from 9th air force headquarters as having shot his first German Focke-Wulf. He has just been promoted to first lieutenant and in addition to the air medal has added a silver cluster and 2 bronze clusters on his awards.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, March 01, 1945, Page 10
TO BE HONORED SUNDAY
Memorial services for Lt. Hilmar Germaine Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson, 228 15th S. W., will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church, with the Rev. A. L. Edmonds, pastor, officiating.
Lt. Erickson died in Germany on June 2, as a result of injuries incurred in an airplane accident. He flew a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber and was flight commander in the 391st squadron of the 9th army air corps. He began his tour of duty in the European theater last August.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, July 26, 1945, Page 9
Card of Thanks
WE WISH to express our appreciation for the many acts of kindness, expressions of sympathy, and condolence for the memorial fund by the United Service Women, Madison division, during our recent bereavement, the loss of our son, First Lt. Hilmar G. Erickson, who died in Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Erickson
Mrs. Ruth Burchell
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, August 02, 1945, Page 20
NOTE: Lt. Hilmar Germaine Erickson was interred at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Netherlands. There is a stone in his honor at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.
