The Record is informed that Soldier Cecil McGonigle has been missing in action over Germany since November 7th. He is a nephew of Wm. McGonigle of Jewell and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray McGonigle who formerly lived in this community. He was born on the old Shillinglaw farm northeast of town when his father worked for Chas. Barkhuff. His wife and baby live with his parents who now reside at Austin, Minn. His two brothers, Ronald and Arlo, are also in the service.
Source: Jewell Record, Jewell, IA - Jan, 18. 1945
This is a photo of the B-17G Flying Fortress aircraft #42-107029 “Tail Wind” in flight over Germany during WWII. The aircraft was lost to enemy AA guns and enemy Aircraft on Nov. 2, 1944 over Merseberg, Germany. Co-Pilot Lt. Esper was KIA and the rest of the crew, including Sgt. McGonigle, were captured and declared MIA. They survived the rest of the war as POWs.
*The art work on the plane was of a lady with her skirt flying upwards as if she was blown by a tail wind.*
Cecil Wayne McGonigle, T Sgt. U.S. Army Air Corps - MIA/POW
Cecil Wayne McGonigle was born Aug. 31, 1921, to Ray and Eunice Holt McGonigle. He died Oct. 31, 2011, and is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Austin, MN.
Cecil was reported missing in action over Germany Nov 7, 1944, and became a German prisoner of war.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.
His Obituary: Post Bulletin, Austin, MN - Nov. 3, 2011
Cecil Wayne “Mike” McGonigle, 90, of Austin, died Monday evening Oct. 31, 2011, at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester.
He was born Aug. 31, 1021, to Ray and Eunice (Holt) McGonigle in Ellsworth, Iowa. Growing up in Iowa, he graduated from Eagle Grove High School. Cecil was a prisoner of war during World War II. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star. He married Viva Wentzel on Aug. 21, 1942, in Glendale, Calif. After the war, Cecil and Viva moved to Austin where Cecil worked for Geo. A. Hormel & Company for 35 years. They lived in the same house for 65 years.
A member of Crane Community Chapel, Mower County Genealogy Society, Mower County Historical Society and the VFW, Cecil was an avid reader.
Survivors include his wife, Viva of Austin; daughters, Gloria Bahr of Rochester and Gail (Bruce) Lunde of Merrifield; son Michael (Linda) McGonigle of East Moline, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Brian (Deb) Bahr, Erin (Kennan) Kroll, Daniel (Emily) McGonigle, Messa Watson (Stanley Flowers), Tara Cornelius, Kjirstin (Scott) Bingel, Jori (Scott) Shore and Gretchen (Chad) Bill; 20 great-grandchildren, Stephinee, Noah, Caleb, Gabriel, Shane, Seth, Sean, Nick, Mason, Evan, Hannah, Ezra, Sierra, Elijah, Chris, Aiden, Ethan, Mackenzie, Hailey and Ethan; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Eunice and two brothers, Arlo and Ronnie.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at Crane Community Chapel in Austin, with The Reverend Dale Christiansen officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service.
Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements.
Internment is at Grandview Cemetery in Austin, with military rites by VF Post 1216 and American Legion Post 91.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
