Polk County

Lt. Delmar E. Switzer

Lt. D. E. Switzer Killed in Action

Second Lt. Delmar E. Switzer, 30, was killed in action Mar. 24 over Germany, the War Department has notified his wife Ruth, 5720 Ingersoll ave.

Lieutenant Switzer was serving as assistant  squadron leader with a troop carrier group of the Allied 1st airborne army. He was a pilot and navigator.

A graduate of Roosevelt high school, he ente4red service in June, 1942.  He received pilot wings at Lubbock, Tex., and was sent overseas more than a year ago.

Lieutenant Switzer had four battle stars, the presidential unit citation ribbon and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.  He had seen action in Italy, southern France, Holland and Germany.

Surviving, besides his widow, are a daughter, Nancy Ione, 7 months, whom he had never seen; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Switzer, Portland, Ore.; four sisters and one brother.

Source: Des Moines Tribune, Wednesday, April 11, 1945 (photo included)

Delmar Eugene Switzer was born Oct. 26, 1914 to William E. and Lora Gibbs Switzer. He died Mar. 24, 1945 and is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

2nd Lt. Switzer served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 302nd Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group and was KIA over Germany.

Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov