OUR NEIGHBORS in the SERVICE.
Harlan, Iowa—Kenneth E. Wigness has reported to the two-engine school of the advanced army flying school at Altus, Okla., for the last nine weeks of his pilot training.
Source: Sioux City Journal, August 10, 1943
Finish Flight Training
These youths from the Sioux City territory were among many who stood in a long lines on the parking ramps of 11 advanced flying schools in the southwest last weekend to receive silver pilots wings in graduation ceremonies of the army air forces central flying training command, with head-quarters at Randolph field, Texas.
Pictured here, left to right, top row are Robert G. McNelly, Rock Valley, Iowa; Charles W. Stewart, West Point, Nebraska; Howard K. Hillman, Lennox, South Dakota; Russell K. Rohlfsen, LeMars, Iowa and bottom row, Paul J. Bird, Marcus, Iowa and Arnold J. Wiese, Lake Park, Iowa.
Others from this area receiving their wings included Kenneth E. Wigness, Harlan, Iowa; Verne L Douville, Chamberlain, South Dakota; Charles E. Griffiths, Jr., Groton, South Dakota; Arthur M. Roberts, Mitchell, South Dakota; Van B. Campbell, Sioux Falls; Talvin J. Roraus, Sioux Falls; Joseph L. Elwell, Springfield, South Dakota and Hubert E. Holcomb, Wessington Springs, South Dakota.
Source: Sioux City Journal, October 6, 1943
Kenneth Eugene Wigness was born Apr. 8, 1944 to Cornelius R. and Sina Wigness. He died Apr. 8, 1944 (lost at sea). He is memorialized at Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA.
Lt. Wigness served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 804th Bomb Squadron, 471st Bomb Group as a pilot on B-24H Liberator #42-7525 on a two-ship training flight from Westover Field, Massachusetts. He died when his aircraft was lost and no trace of the missing crew was ever found.
Source: ancestry.com
