COMMISSIONED
Darle Dunbar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dunbar of Duncombe, was graduated June 17, at Corpus Christi and received a commission of ensign in the naval air corps. He is spending a 15-day leave with relatives and friends here, after which he will report at Corpus Christi for assignment to further training.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - June 22, 1944
NOW IN FLORIDA
Ensign Darle Dunbar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dunbar of Duncombe, has begun operational training in the naval air corps at Jacksonville, Fla. His new address is: Ensign Darle A. Dunbar, Box 27, Bldg. 701, U. S. N. A. S., Jacksonville, Fla.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - July 25, 1944
ENSIGN DUNBAR DIES IN CRASH
Naval Aviator Was Based at Jacksonville, Fla., Station.
Ensign Darle A. Dunbar, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dunbar of near Duncombe, was killed Friday morning in a training flight accident at Jacksonville, Fla., his parents were notified Saturday in a telegram from the Florida naval station.
According to the message from the commanding officer at Jacksonville, the naval aviator was “involved in a serious aircraft accident in the vicinity of Jacksonville.” The accident the telegram stated, occurred at 10 a.m m. Friday.
Military services will be held in this city at a date to be accounted soon with Foster’s in charge. A military escort will accompany the body to this city.
Ensign Dunbar, a graduate of the Webster City schools in 19940, was commissioned an ensign in July at Corpus Christi, Texas, and took operational training at Jacksonville, Fla., before being transferred in September to the naval base at Hutchinson, Kans., where he received specialized training on B-24 bombers. Following completion of this course he was home on a brief leave shortly before Christmas and then reported to the Jacksonville naval station for further advanced training.
Besides his parents, Ensign Dunbar is survived by one brother, Dick.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Jan. 27, 1945
DUNBAR RITES HERE FRIDAY
Plan Services Here for Naval Aviator Killed in Accident.
Funeral services for Ensign Darle A. Dunbar, 22, will be held Friday at 2 p.m., at the Foster funeral home, with the Rev. W. Dow Crewdson and the Rev. W. R. Yard officiating; burial in Graceland cemetery. A short service will also be held at the home for relatives at 1:15.
The ensign was killed Friday, Jan. 26, in a training flight accident in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Fla. The body is expected to arrive in this city early Thursday morning, with a military escort.
Born Near Clarion
Darle Aubrey Dunbar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Dunbar, was born July 7, 1922, in wright county, near Clarion. When he was two years old, the family moved to Hamilton county, locating on the Dunbar home place in Cass township, and it was in this community that he began his education in the rural schools.
In 1933 the Dunbars moved to the farm ner Duncombe where they have since lived, and Darle completed his rural school work there, later attending Webster City high school. He was graduated in 1940 and for one year attended junior college here, after which he was a student at Iowa State college, Ames, for one and a half years, taking a course in chemical engineeering.
Dec. 5, 1942, he enlisted in the naval air corps at Minneapolis, and March 12 of the next year he received his call for training. He entered war training school at Albert Lea, after which he received his pre-flight training at Iowa City and his primary training at Ottumwa.
For basic training he was transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas, and on June 17, 1944, he received his commission as an ensign.
Operational Training
He went to Jacksonville, Fla., for operational training, after which he was moved to Hutchinson, Kans., for specialized work in PB4Y planes. In the latter part of December, 1944, he returned to Jacksonville for advanced training.
Besides his parents, Ensign Dunbar is survived by one brother, Dick, at home.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - January 31, 1945
Darle Aubrey Dunbar was born July 7, 1922 to Harold John and Sabra Emma Markwardt Dunbar. He died Jan. 27, 1945.
Darle’s name is on the World War II wall at the Iowa State University Memorial Union, Ames, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
