APPOINTED FLIGHT OFFICER
Harley R. Larson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis B. Larson, 1442 Jefferson N. W., who was home on leave following his appointment as flight officer at Lubbock, Tex., left Monday for Maxton, N. Car., for further training. F/O Larson was graduated a glider pilot. (Photo by Free)
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Friday, October 27, 1944, Page 14 (photo included)
Home on Leave
F/O Harley R. Larson, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Larson, 1442 Jefferson N. W., is home on a 30-day leave from the FTO, where for the past 6 months he has served as pilot on a troop earlier transporting prisoners of war, supplies, etc.
Larson will report to Santa Ana, Cal., on Aug. 31, for reassignment. His wife, who has been living at Cedar Rapids, will accompany him.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, August 16, 1945, Page 6
HARLEY LARSON MISSING on
PLANE CRASH on WEST COAST
Was Passenger on Plane That
Collided Over Catalina Island
Flight Officer Harley Larson, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Larson, 1442 Jefferson N. W., is missing in a plane crash that occurred off the west coast over Catalina island last Wednesday, it was reported here Saturday.
Larson had gone out as a passenger on a navy Ventura plane, it was learned from the captain of his group with whom the Larsons here have been getting word by telephone.
The crash occurred when the Ventura collided with another plane, the occupant of which have all be picked up. No trace of the Ventura or its occupants have as yet been found and it is presumed that the crashed plane disappeared in the ocean.
According to the passengers picked up from the plane that was found, none had seen the Ventura either before or after the crash. They only know that there had been a collision.
Harley had been stationed at Santa Ana, Cal., since Sept. 1, following a 30-day leave spent in Mason City after being returned from 6 months in the European theater. His wife had gone to California with him.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Saturday, September 29, 1945, Page 1
Burial Flags for 4 Veterans at Memorial
Four Mason City Veterans who gave their lives in the service were honored at joint public memorial services at Music hall Sunday afternoon with the Rev. Alvin N. Rogness of the Trinity Lutheran church giving the eulogy.
Burial fags from the U. S. government were presented to the following: To H. J. Hendrickson for his son, Lt. Lawrence E. Hendrickson; to Fred Hart, 816 Jefferson N. W., for his son, Pvt. Peter Hart; to Harriette J. Larson, 1442 Jefferson N. W., for her husband, F/O Harley R. Larson, and to Claude Spencer for his brother, Pfc. William C. Spencer.
Gold star citation scrolls from the national department of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and flowers from the 2 local organizations were presented to those receiving the flags.
Mr. Rogness spoke briefly to those who came to pay their respects to the men honored. He pointed out that one need not be tormented by whether or not the soldier died in vain, whether it would have been better had he lived, but rather be assured that death for him was an opening to a city where he really belonged -- that one should not be bitter over the price that was paid but rather look into the future, thankful, to God for this country and the great gifts given us through that land.
Mrs. T. J. Kiesselbach sang "Oh Brother Man, Fold to Thy Heart Thy Brother Man" by Ward and "The Lord's Prayer" by Malotte, with Mrs. Mildred Wolf at the piano. Mrs. Wolf also played a prelude which opened the service.
Honor guard and firing squad under the command of Capt. Leslie R. Whipple of company E consisted of First Lt. George C. Mathews, T/Sgt. William Cooper, T/Sgt. Carrell Shultz, Sgt. Resser Adams, Cpl. Dwayne Niederheiser, T/5 Johnnie l. Springer, Pvt. Lloyd Albright, Pvt. Robert Frid and Cpl. Richard Whipple, bugler.
Veteran organizations were present with their colors. Elias Kelroy, commander of the Clausen-Worden American Legion post presided. Arrangements were made by Tyler Stewart.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Tuesday, January 28, 1946
Harley Ray Larson was born Nov. 4, 1914 to Lewis B. and Julia Nelson Larson. He died Sept. 26, 1945. Flight Officer Larson has a cenotaph in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
