LOCAL MEN AND THEIR
ENLISTMENT STATUS
Estal Behrens, formerly of Spirit Lake, who has been employed in Spencer, successfully passed the examination for entrance into the Cadet Air Corps in Omaha last week, and is awaiting word of his appointment to the Flying Cadets.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, April 02, 1942, Page 8
LOCAL MEN AND THEIR
ENLISTMENT STATUS
Estal Behrens of Spencer received his call the last of the week to report for Army flying training, and will leave Spencer Friday for Omaha, Nebr., from where he will be assigned to a flying field. Estel enlisted in the Army Air Corps this spring and has been awaiting his call to start training.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, August 20, 1942, Page 7
ESTAL BEHRENS STARTS BASIC TRAINING
IN THE U. S. AIR FORCE
Estal Behrens, graduate of the Spirit Lake high school in 1936, who until his enlistment in the U. S. Army Air Force worked in Spirit Lake in the Glen Hall Chevrolet garage and at Spencer, has completed his primary flight training at Bruce Field, Ballinger, Texas, and has now started his basic training.
Aviation Cadet Behrens is one of seven Iowa aviation cadets, who recently graduated from primary schools in the Gulf Coast Training Center and has now begun the third and next-to-last stage of his flight training at Goodfellow Field, Basic Flying School at Angelo, Texas. After nine weeks at Goodfellow Field he will be ready for the finishing touches of advanced school, after which he will be awarded his wings.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, February 04, 1943, Page 5
LOCAL MEN AND THEIR
ENLISTMENT STATUS
A/C Estel Behrens has completed his basic training at San Angelo, Texas, and is now stationed at Brooks Field, Texas, where he is having his advanced training in the Army Air Forces. He will be stationed here for fourteen weeks, and will receive his commission at the end of the first nine weeks remaining there for another five for additional training.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, March 25, 1943, Page 7
Estel Behrens Receives Wings
Estal W. Behrens, former Spirit Lake youth, received his wings last week following his graduation from an advanced flying school in Texas, and has been commissioned a lieutenant in the U. S. Army Air Force. He was graduated from Books Field in San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Behrens has been in Texas with him this winter and was present for the graduation.
The graduation was held on Monday, May 24, and on Tuesday Estel went to Matagorda Island near Brooks Field, Texas, to study aerial gunnery. He writes the Beacon that so far he has had one day of gunnery and two of swimming and fishing, those sports being very good down there on the island.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, June 03, 1943, Page 1
Lt. Estal W. Behrens was with the 124th Squadron and killed in action over China February 2, 1945.
Source: Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday February 14, 1946, Page 1
***Further Research:
Estal Ward Behrens was born Dec. 16, 1917 to Fred Frank and Clara Myrtle Olson Behrens. He died Feb. 2, 1945 and is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Source: ancestry.com
