Norwich University - War Whoop Yearbook (Northfield, VT)

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Lf --XXgxxNNxxf ff-1 f fffgff XX- .,., .-,ff,, xxx ff.- .- THURBER c. RAYMOND Class of 1941 First Lieutenant, 1st Reconnaissance Troop, 1st Infantry Division Doc was with the Hrst group that landed at Oran. He fought through the North African Campaign, took part in the Tunisian Campaign, and in the invasion of Sicily. His unit was movgd to France and later advanced through Belgium. On September 10, 1944, Lieutenant Raymond was engaged in deploying his platoon when he passed a man who had uncovered a land mine. As he came abreast of the soldier, the mine, which had been booby-trapped, exploded, killing him and the soldier that had uncovered the mine. Doc', was born in Deland, Florida. He attended Wrentham High School of Wrentham, Massachusetts, and the Taft School in Watertown, New York, before coming to Norwich. His ability on the baseball diamond and his sportsmanship in life will be remembered by all who knew him. His parents, Doctors C. Stanley and Mabel C. Raymond, reside in Wrentham, Massachusetts. RICHARD B. AYERS Class of 1942 Flight Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force Dick', left Norwich before our country had become involved in World War II to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. We lost not only a fine football player by his departure but a Hner per- sonality in our daily life. Dick,' had completed several missions prior to July 28, 1942, when he was assigned a bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany. His was one of the thirty-four planes that failed to return. He was reported as missing in action on July 28, 1942, but as no trace of the crew or plane was found, he was reported as killed in action six months later. The Royal Canadian Air Force posthumously awarded Opertaional Wings to Flight Sergeant Ayers. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ayers, make their home in Fredonia, New York. LAWRENCE LEON ELMAN Claw Of 1942 Second Lieutenant, 4th Cavalry Group Larry,', one of the hottest drummers that Norwich has ever seen, was a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Elman, now reside. On April 11, 1944, Larry arrived in England after having trained with the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Shortly after the invasion of the Continent, his unit was engaged in combat near Marigney, France. On July 27, 1944, while reconnoitering roads running east from Marigney, the enemy was contacted. Larry's', platoon completed their mission, but while he was reporting to his com- manding officer, an enemy shell fragment hit Lieutenant Elrnan, killing him instantly. FIFTEEN

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ff xxx f fra' ff 3:11, - -C xxx't ' f'- X Xxx -.i7 .1 - CHARLES STANLEY MURCH Class of 1938 Lieutenant, Squadron VR-7, Naval Air Transport Service Charles Murch left his position as assistant to the president of the Leon J. Barrett Company to enter the Naval Air Service as a Lieutenant He was assigned to the Pilot's Instructor's School at the Naval Base at Corpus Christi, Texas. After serving as an instructor of student pilots, he was ordered to the Naval Training School at the American Air Lines Training School at Fort Worth, Texas, for instrument flying training. Lieutenant Murch joined Squadron VR-7, an air transport squadron flying between Miami and Rio de Janeiro, at Miami, Florida, on January 8, 1944. He was killed when his airplane crashed shortly after take-off from Zandery Field, Dutch Guiana, on October 12, 1943. The cause of the crash was never fully determined. Ruth E. Murch, his wife, whom he married on April 4, 1942, resides in East Hampton, Connecticut. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Murch, reside in Worcester, Massachusetts, where Lieu- tenant Murch was born on June 6, 1915. NORMAN PORTER STURTEVANT Class of 1939 Captain, 4th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command The Northern Atlantic Ferrying Route was being flown by Captain Sturtevant in the capacity of navigator on October 16, 1944, when the airplane in which he was flying crashed on take-off at Gander, Newfoundland. All members of the crew were killed. The Captain was born and lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts, prior to entering the service as a Second Lieutenant on October 21, 1940. His wife, Miriam Carew Sturtevant, and his mother, Mrs. Harold T. Sturtevant, reside in New Bedford, Massachusetts. EDWARD FRANCIS JOHNSON Class Of 1941 Sergeant, Gunner, 8th Air Force Sergeant Johnson, the son of Mrs. Marion L. Johnson and of the late Harold P. Johnson, a former mayor of Woburn, Massa- chusetts, was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for missions over Europe prior to November, 1943. He was on detached service with the Royal Air Force when he took part in the bombing of Pernemiinde, which was described by some strate- gists as Twenty minutes that saved the war. His last mission was flown over Berlin as a gunner with the Royal Air Force on November 26-27, 1943. His plane failed to return. His wife, Mrs. Virginia Johnson, and daughter, Jacquelyne E. Johnson, reside in Woburn as does his mother. FOURTEEN

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ff XX aff,-fff, 1,4 fxxggxgfff .- PAUL J. KOHLER Class of 1942 Second Lieutenant, Army Air Corps Paul's training in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the Barre-Montpelier Airport while at Norwich prompted him to transfer from the Cavalry to the Air Corps for pilot training after being called to active duty. P.J. successfully completed the Air Forces pilot training pro- gram and was assigned to the Second Air Force for bombardment operational training. In the final phase of his operational training, Paul was on a routine flight from Wendover Field, Utah, on December 29, 1943, when the plane in which he was flying collided with another four-engine aircraft over the Western shore of the Great Salt Lake. Paul and twenty-three other crew members lost their lives in this collision. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Kohler, his parents, reside in New Haven, Connecticut. FREDERICK GOODWIN LAKE Class of 1942 Second Lieutenant, Army Air Corps Fred left Fort Riley, Kansas, and the Cavalry in the summer of 1942 to enter pilot training as a student pilot in the Gulf Coast Training Center, after having been called to duty upon graduation from Norwich. He lost his life when his plane crashed while on a routine flight from his base in Newport, Arkansas. A military funeral was held at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Besides his mother, Mrs. Katherine Lake, of 128 Hillcrest Avenue, Manhasset, New York, Fred', is survived by a brother, Robert Lake, who also served in the Army Air Corps. Forces XVARREN SCHUYLER LUTZ Class of 1942 First Lieutenant 368th Bombaidment Squadron Army Air After completing pilot and operational training, Warren was assigned to the sofh Bomb Group, a unit of the 8th Air Force. He was awarded the Air Medal, and his unit received a Presidential Citation for action over Germany. On April 29, 1944, he was the pilot of one of the Flying Fortresses which took part in a raid over Germany. As a result of ack-ack, his ship developed gasoline leaks which filled the interior with gas fumes. A direct hit ignited the fumes and the airplane disintegrated in mid-air. The tail gunner, who was blown from the ship, was the only one to survive the accident. The remainder of the crew were interred near the site of the accident at I-Iecklingen Cemetery. Evelyn and Jess Lutz, his mother and father, reside in South- hampton, Long Island, New York. SIXTEEN