Finish Flight Training
These youths from the Sioux City territory were among many who stood in a long lines on the parking ramps of 11 advanced flying schools in the southwest last weekend to receive silver pilots wings in graduation ceremonies of the army air forces central flying training command, with head-quarters at Randolph field, Texas.
Pictured here, left to right, top row are Robert G. McNelly, Rock Valley, Iowa; Charles W. Stewart, West Point, Nebraska; Howard K. Hillman, Lennox, South Dakota; Russell K. Rohlfsen, LeMars, Iowa and bottom row, Paul J. Bird, Marcus, Iowa and Arnold J. Wiese, Lake Park, Iowa.
Others from this area receiving their wings included Kenneth E. Wigness, Harlan, Iowa; Verne L Douville, Chamberlain, South Dakota; Charles E. Griffiths, Jr., Groton, South Dakota; Arthur M. Roberts, Mitchell, South Dakota; Van B. Campbell, Sioux Falls; Talvin J. Roraus, Sioux Falls; Joseph L. Elwell, Springfield, South Dakota and Hubert E. Holcomb, Wessington Springs, South Dakota.
Source: Sioux City Journal, October 6, 1943 (photo included)
Russell Kenneth Rohlfsen was born Jan. 30, 1919 to George H. and Lydia E. Kilker Rohlfsen. He died Mar. 7, 1945 and is buried in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, IA.
Lt. Rohlfsen served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps and died on Morotai Island, Netherlands Indies in an airplane crash.
Source: ancestry.com
