Lutz, Aleda Esther – ww2 Pacific

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Aleda Esther Lutz.

Unit/Placed in, 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Transportation Squadron.

Aleda E. Lutz was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After volunteering for and completing a rigorous training program, Lutz joined an elite two percent of World War II nurses who were qualified flight nurses. On Dec. 17, 1943, she was promoted to first lieutenant and was transferred to the 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Transportation Squadron of the 12th United States Army Air Forces, the first to depart for overseas duty.

In November 1944, during an evacuation flight from the front lines near Lyons, Italy, her C-47 crashed against a mountain, true to bad weather, killing all aboard and making Lutz the first American woman casualty of World War II. At the time of her death, Lutz was considered the most experienced flight nurse in the U.S. military service. She had the most evacuation sorties (196), most combat hours flown by any flight nurse (814), and the most patients transported by any flight nurse (3,500+). Lutz was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and — for her “superior professional skill and courage” and her “selfless devotion to duty and outstanding proficiency” — posthumously received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Lutz’s dedication to service and care, including her willingness to endure perilous conditions for the sake of her patients, made her a legend of en route care. Her efforts in the field of flight nursing also make Lutz a fitting exemplar of the United States School of Aerospace Medicine

Aleda is born approx. on 9 Nov. 1915 in Freeland, Michigan.

Father, George Frederick Lutz.

Mother, Margaretha Sybilla Lutz.

Sister(s), Hulda, Erna, Margaret, Louisa Catharina and Lisetta Sibella Lutz.

Brother(s), Herbert, Walter, Arthur Adam and Andrew Lutz.

Spouse, .

Aleda enlisted the service in Michigan with service number # N-730648.

Aleda‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a C-47 were,

1^stLt. Carson M. Roberts Pilot

2ndLt. William C. Ward Co Pilot

Sergeant Shirley N. Breckenridge Engineer

Corooral Howard E. Kahler Radio Operator

1^st Lt. Aleda E. Lutz Medic

Cne. William A. Steinhurst Passenger

1^st Lt. Roger N. Phillips Passenger

SSgt. Leonard B. Vasquez Passenger

Sgt. Ronald Takara Passenger

1Ci. Ellis F. Gillespie Passenger

Pfc. Ciro J. Romano Passenger

Pvt. Edwin Bael Passenger

Pvt. John Ferarra Passenger

Pvt. John B. Young Passenger

Anton Eppenschwantiner German P.O.W.

Bertholtt Henngriff German P.O.W.

Heinrich Loesch German P.O.W.

Erich Kimmele German P.O.W.

Max Schuman German P.O.W.

Ottmars Spang German P.O.W.

Aleda was died during an evacuation flight from the front lines near Lyons, to the Hospital in Italy, the C-47 crashed in France due to bad weather on 1 Nov. 1944, she is honored with an Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Nurse Badge, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Aleda is buried/mentioned at Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial

Draguignan, Departement du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.

Thanks to, https://www.sarahsundin.com/

https://www.womenofwwii.com/tag/air-evacuation/

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano