Lt. Lyle E. Graham

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Graham of Guys Mills, received word on Tuesday morning that their son Second Lt. Lyle E. Graham, had been injured fatally in an airplane accident at Moses Lake Field, Washington, on Monday, June 21.

No details of the accident were given except that it had occurred during routine training.  The telegram was signed by Lt. Col. Charles B. Westover, commanding officer at the field.

The death of Lieutenant Graham brings to six the number of Crawford County young men killed in air-force accidents while still in the US.

Only 19 years of age, Lieutenant Graham is survived by his parents; a sister, Ruth and a brother, Bernard, both at home; his grandmothers, Mrs. Lola Graham of Guys Mills and Mrs. Minnie McDonald of Diamond.

He was a member of the Guys Mills Congregational Church.

After graduating from the Randolph Township High School in 1941, Lieutenant Graham was employed for a time at the Byrd store at Guys Mills.  He enlisted in the army air forces at Pittsburgh on February 2, 1942, and was called for active service on June 2, 1942, taking his pre-flight training at Maxwell Field, Alabama.  In September her was transferred to Union City, TN, for primary training; then to Greenville, MS, for basic training.  He had his advanced training at Columbus, MS, receiving his commission and wings on March 25 for this year.

Lieutenant Graham was assigned to a Flying Fortress at Sebring, FL, as a pilot, and after some time there, on May 21, was given two weeks leave, coming to his home for that time.  He left for Moses Lake on June 5.

Services were held with Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Union Cemetery, Guys Mills.