Spangler, Edward Franklin "Eddie"

Date of birth:: October 3rd, 1921
Date of death:: June 1st, 1945
Service number:: 19063028
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

T Sgt Edward Franklin Spangler - B-39 Bomber Big Poison Second Dose.

Eddie Spangler, had signed up for the Army Air Corps. He took his advanced technical training at Chanute Air Field 130 miles south of Chicago. On May 2, 1942 he and Sophie Figorski filed an application in Champaign County for their marriage license. Eddie was ultimately assigned to the 678th Bomb Squadron of the 444th Bombardment Group. Sometime after April 27, 1945, & sorties out of India, the 24 year old and his 9 other crew members began flying their Boeing B-29 Superfortress from Tinian Island, a mere speck in the Marianas Archipelago, a 3000 roundtrip to Japan. According to the 444th's website, "In the early morning of 1 June 1945, [Eddie Spangler's B-29, dubbed Big Poison Second Dose] climbed through a heavy overcast on the way to the Japanese mainland. Near the assembly point, off the coast of Japan,[near Osaka} the top of the overcast had been breached and the plane was seen flying in the clear preparing to join their formation leader – Suddenly, another plane came up out of the clouds beneath them and crashed into a wing. Both planes disappeared into the clouds below. Air-Sea Rescue facilities were contacted & a search of the area was made, to no avail."

Body never recovered, memorial Marker Only - Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery St Louis County Missouri.

Husband of Sophie M (Toot) Figorski (1919-2006) buried Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Father of Jeanie Spangler (named for his sister Jean).
Son of Cecil Martin Spangler & Florence M Spangler.
Brother of film starlet Jean Elisabeth Spangler (famous LA Police unsolved 1949 disappearance case).

Letters to Susie Isley, dated India April 27, 1945, only 35 days before his death: