Date of birth:

July 11th, 1921 (Marshall/Missouri, United States)

Date of death:

January 2nd, 2020 (Columbia/Missouri, United States)

Service number:

0-503302

Nationality:

American (1776 - present, Republic)

Edward Brandecker was the only son to Clara and Edward Brandecker. Edward’s family has interesting ties to aviation. Growing up in Marshall, MO Edward’s uncle, Russell B. Nicholas in the 1920’s started a propellor refurbishing company that after partnering with Howard Beazley became Central Missouri Aviation Comp, which in addition to building planes was the largest US flight school until the depression when the company went out of business. Again of interest is the Central Missouri Aviation Comp provided multiple instruments (certifications are included in the Nicholas Beazley Aviation Museum that were used in the Spirit of St. Louis, during Charles Lindberg’s flight across the Atlantic. Also during the transition from refurbishing propellers to flight school/building planes, Ole Fahlin, another aviation pioneer, reached an agreement to share space in the Central Missouri Aviation facilities, which allowed his propellor business to grow. When the Central Aviation Comp went out of business, Ole Fahlin left Marshall MO and moved his operation to Columbia, MO where he continued to build propellers and as many articles will confirm, became one of, if not the pre-imminent propellor design manufacturer of his time.

Military career
In 1942, Edward enlisted in the USAF as a pilot and later became a flight instructor based in Texas. In 1944 he was assigned to the 456th Bomb Group as captain of a B24 squadron and deployed to Italy. During the war, he led dozens of successful missions.

After the war
After the war, Brandecker became an assistant prosecuting attorney before opening his own law practice in Columbia. He continued his passion for flying until the age of 88.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 28th, 1944

G.O. # 4740 Hq 15th AF

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 16th, 1945

G.O. # 718, Hq 15th AF (1st OLC)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

747th Bombardment Squadron, 456th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1945

"For extraordinary achievement in aerial flight."
"15th AAF in Italy. With one engine knocked out by flak and the prop running away, a Marshall, Mo., pilot and a Ridgefield, Conn. co-pilot held their Liberator bomber in formation "by main force" during an assault against a vital oil refinery at Salsburg, Germany, and then returned safely to base through adverse weather with a second engine out."
The pilot, First Lieut. Edward W. Brandecker, 23, Marshall, Mo., and the co-pilot, Second Lieutenant Charles W. Weitzel Jr., Ridgefield, Conn., were leading a box in their group at the time. A direct hit in the No. 4 engine caused the prop to run away and only after fighting with the controls did they manage to keep the lurching plane in position.
The No. 4 engine on the bomber conked out due to mechanical failure as the fliers were passing over the Adriatic Sea on the way back to base. On the way back to base the weather closed in on the airmen. Ice formed on the wings of the plane and snow banked up in the bombardier's compartment. Most of the time Lieutenant Brandecker and Lieutenant Weitzel took turns at the controls.
Both airmen were flying their fifteenth combat mission with a veteran B-24 Liberator bomber group commanded by Col. Thomas W. Steed, of Etowah, Tenn."

G.O. # 1027, Hq 15th AF

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Awarded on:

May 7th, 1945

G.O. # 3078, Hq 15th AF (2nd OLC)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Awarded on:

1945

3rd OLC

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: E. William Brandecker III
• - E. William Brandecker III