Dornbrock, Milsap, Fladiger, Wetzler, Teal

Howard Dornbrock: (Michigan City News Dispatch 9/7/1943)

Dornbrock Killed in Plane Crash
War tragedy struck another Michigan City home Monday as notice was received by Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Dornbrock, 1504 E. Barker, of the death of their son, Cpl. Howard Dornbrock, 22, during a routine training flight at Fort Myers, Fla., yesterday.

The plane, piloted by Second Lieut. John C. Milsap, 21, of Moultrie, Ga. who was also killed, had taken off from Buckingham field only minutes before the crash. Details of the accident however, were not divulged by the war department.

The crash was doubly tragic for Cpl. Dornbrock’s wife of six months – the former Jeanette Fladiger, of this city, who joined her husband at Fort Myers on Aug. 3. Today, Mrs. Dornbrock was accompanying her husband’s body home. She is expected in Michigan City Thursday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Dornbrock, a graduate of Michigan City high school, was inducted into the armed forces through the local selective service board on Sept. 30, 1942. He was an employee of the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. Training to be an aerial gunner, he was later transferred to Florida. On March 25, this year, he returned to Michigan City to wed Miss Fladiger.

The deceased was born Nov. 24, 1920, in Michigan City, the son of Robert Carl and Francis Dornbrock, both of whom survive. Other survivors are three brothers Lieut. Richard Dornbrock, U.S. air force, Monroe, La., and Edward Carl and Donald Lee Dornbrock both at home. A sister Ruth, preceded him in death.

The Dornbrocks were informed that the body left Florida this morning. It will be removed to the Hummer funeral home upon arrival. Military services are expected to be held.

Howard Dornbrock: (Michigan City News Dispatch 9/10/1943)

Funeral services for Cpl. Howard Dornbrock who was killed Monday in a routine training flight at Fort Myers, Fla., will be held at 3 Saturday afternoon at the Hummer mortuary. Friends may call at the Hummer mortuary today, this evening and Saturday until the hour of the service. Memorial services were held Tuesday at Fort Myers for Cpl. Dornbrock. Chaplain Wetzler officiated and Dornbrock’s flight squadron attended in a body. He was to have graduated Saturday and received his wings and sergeant’s rating. The wings were presented to Mrs. Dornbrock, the former Jeanette Fladiger, at the memorial services. Pvt. Robert Teal was the military escort to Michigan City and Mrs. Teal, a close friend of Mrs. Dornbrock accompanied her home on the train.