Oral W. Gardner
2nd. Lt. Oral W. Gardner
Bomber Pilot AAF
Feb. 14, 1917 - March 20, 1944
(Article from the Jacksonian Newspaper)
Oral Wilbert Gardner, son of Elmer E. Gardner of six miles south of Ensign, was killed in a B-24 bomber crash near El Paso, Texas, Monday afternoon. He had received his wings several month ago, had his full crew of ten men, and was about to go across with them, to active service. The entire crew of four officers and six enlisted men were killed in the crash.
Lt. Gardner was 27 years old and entered military service November 6, 1941. He was a graduate of the Ensign high school and was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. Those who knew him say that for several years before entering the service he had been a plane pilot, flying anything that would go up in the air.
Young Gardner will be remembered by all who knew him as a fine outstanding example of Young America. his folks have the sympathy of the entire community in the sudden and tragic loss of their son. (Article from the Jacksonian Newspaper) (He is buried in Cave Cemetery.)
(Article from the Leader Courier, Kingman, KS)
Tragic News for Pensacola Wife
Mrs. Oral Gardner, the former Barbara Hansen, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hansen of Penalosa, received word Tuesday evening of the death of her husband, 2nd. Lt. Oral w. Gardner.
Lieut. Gardner was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer E. Gardner of Ensign, Kans. He was killed with nine other crew members of a Biggs Field B-24 bomber when it crashed two miles south of the Army air base at El Paso, Texas, Monday, marsh 20.
The tragic news was delayed because of the phone and telegraph wires being down, due to the weight of ice and snow.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were married June 1, 1942 at Wichita. Mrs. Gardner has been with her husband most of the time, but he was recently transferred from the Army air base at Liberal to El Paso, Texas. Mrs. Gardner was visiting her parents until Oral was settled in his new location.
Lieut. Gardner was a brother of Mrs. Clifford Hansen of Penalosa. Mrs. Oral Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Hansen, Mrs. Sam Hansen and Patty and Larry Hansen left Tuesday for Ensign to be with the parents and to make funeral arrangements.
–Leader Courier, Kingman, KS
On 20 March 1944, 2nd Lt. Oral Gardner was on the crew of the B-24-E #42-7400 Liberator during a routine training flight out of Biggs Army Air Field in Texas. They crashed just a few miles from the runway. There were no survivors.
10 casualties related to the #42-7400 incident on 20 March 1944.
Eugenio E Benavides
William G Conway
Richard M Cooper
Lionel E Fordyce
Oral W Gardner
Russell F Johnson Jr
Abel J Locapo
Thomas D Nelson
Eugene A Rybka
Fred S Wilcox Jr
A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
The U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare branch of the United States Army from 1926 to 1941. It originated from the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, established in 1907, and later became the Air Service of the U.S. Army in 1918.
In 1926, the Air Service was reorganized as the U.S. Army Air Corps, reflecting a growing recognition of air power’s importance. During the interwar period, the USAAC focused on developing aviation technology, training pilots, and advocating for strategic air power, but it remained under the control of the Army ground forces.
The Air Corps saw significant expansion and modernization in the late 1930s as global tensions rose. In 1941, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) was established, making the Air Corps one of its combat arms rather than a separate branch. The USAAF became an independent service branch known as the U.S. Air Force in 1947 under the National Security Act.
The USAAC played a pivotal role during World War II, laying the groundwork for the strategic and tactical air power that would shape modern aerial warfare.