Memorials › 1LT Louis Norton “Wolf” Duesing

1LT Louis Norton “Wolf” Duesing

20 Sep 1914 – 19 Mar 1946

Birth	20 Sep 1914
Death	19 Mar 1946
Cemetery	Park Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum Bloomington , McLean County , Illinois , USA
Added by	Nathan Beard on 27 Dec 2022
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63897848

Bio

Louis was born September 20, 1914 in Normal. He was named after his grandfather, but often was known by his middle name, Norton. He attended Thomas Metcalf Elementary school and University High School and then attended Illinois State Normal University for four years. In March, 1941 he began flying with the United States Army Air Force but was honorably discharged in June. By August he had joined the Royal Air Force and was sent to England. After completing officers' training and an instructor's course, Lt. Duesing taught at an RAF school. He later served in Scotland and in the Midlands of England as an RAF navigation instructor. He transferred to the U. S. Army Air Forces in July, 1943, and was commissioned a first lieutenant. He served as senior flight control officer, assistant pilot briefing officer, assistant operations officer and aircraft accident investigation officer. From September, 1944 until April 1945, he was stationed at Romulus, Michigan with the Military Air Transport Command. He was then transferred to Stockton, California with his wife joining him there. Louis had returned home to Illinois to visit his mother, on two weeks leave of February of 1946, just one month before his untimely death. He had recently re-enlisted in the Army Air Forces. In addition to his wife, sister and mother, Lt. Duesing was survived by an older brother, Howard E. of Naperville. His father and his first wife preceded him in death (above information edited from The Pantagraph March 21, 1946). First Lieutenant Louis Norton Duesing was killed in the crash of U.S. Army Air Corps C-47B-50 Skytrain #45-1085 when it broke apart in flight and crashed near Hobard Mills, 11 miles north of Truckee, California. The plane had departed Stockton, with the destination of Ogden, Utah with 23 Army and Navy personnel and three crew members. At 11:45 PM Pacific Time, while flying at an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft lost a part of its right wing and the empennage as well (the empennage of an aircraft includes the tail assembly, the vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer, rudder, and elevators and is crucial for stability and control during flight). Out of control, the aircraft dove to the ground, after partially disintegrating in the air, and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Donner State Park, west of Hobart Mills, near Prosser Creek in 8-12 feet of snow in an area about about 6500 feet above sea level. Lt. Duesing was the co-pilot. Probable cause was listed as "Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight." (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives). All aboard perished. Recovery of those killed in the crash was challenging due to the snow and the remote location. ~ The following article is from the Sierra Sun Truckee Republican March 21, 1946. 26 Service Men Perish In Crash Of Army Plane The last of the 26 bodies of the victims of one of aviation's most tragic accidents was removed from the wreckage of the Army's C-47 cargo plane one mile south west of Hobart Mills shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Under the supervision of Air Force officers here from Reno, Sacramento, Stockton and Hamilton Field, a score or more of workers spent 24 hours removing the bodies of the 26 service men from the area after the plane fel at 11:15 o'clock Tuesday morning while en route from McClellan Field, Sacramento, to Denver with a capacity load of men, most of whom were changing posts prior to discharge. The plane reported at Donner Summit CAA station at 11:39 and a few minutes later it was heard by at least five persons as it neared Hobart Mills. Tom Dwyer, employed by the division of highways, looked up from his work as the plane appeared to have developed trouble. As he watched the ship broke apart and fell to the ground, parts and bodies being scattered over a wide area in the snow. Floyd Reeves and D. W. Roberts, also employed on the highway crew witnessed the crash as did Mr. and Mrs. Clair Heater, caretakers at Hobart Mills. Mrs. Sophia McLeod, in whose yard one of the bodies fell, said she did not see nor hear the crash and. declined to discuss the matter further, remaining in her home as the gruesome search was conducted. Lt. Col. Harry E. Willard, who is in command of the inquiry into the crash, said today that from his investigation the ship lost a blade of its propellor in its flight and before the propellors could be feathered to resist the terrific wind pressure. the vibration caused the right wing of the plane to break off. This was the cause of the noise which was mistaken for an explosion by witnesses, according to Col. Willard. Mr. Heater immediately telephoned and Constable N. F. Dolley, Game Warden William LaMarr, Steve Aplin and State Patrolman William Gautsche rushed to Hobart Mills, learned the approximate location of the wreck, returned to Truckee and with others went back and searched for three hours before LaMarr located the wreckage and scattered bodies. Army officials were notified and rushed to the scene where they recruited additional assistance to bring the broken bodies out to the highway a distance of nearly a mile. The work continued throughout the night and most of yesterday. Coroner Alvah Hooper spent yesterday here aiding in the work. All victims were taken to a Reno mortuary. Invaluable aid was given by Emmett Tucker's Sno-Cat, the only vehicle available which could make the trip from the highway to the scene of the disaster. It was on this ingenious rig that all the bodies were removed. Capt. Howard Simer of Reno and Lt. Irving Swett of Stockton were in charge of the early operations with Lt. Cummings of Hamilton Field's search and rescue squad directing much of the efforts. General Tunner, commander of the Continental Division of the ATC, was scheduled to arrive here today to make a personal investigation of the crash. He will be accompanied by Col. Malcolm Green, Jr., commander as Stockton Air Base, and Col. Robert Gowey, director of operations for the ATC. Manager A. P. Leitch of the telephone company installed additional operators to handle the heavy volume of traffic over the lines through the investigation and search. Army officials expressed their appreciation for the fine cooperation given by all concerned, particularly to the Heaters who turned over their home as Hobart Mills headquarters. The Sierra Sun office in Truckee served as local headquarters.

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