Obit: Humke, Herbert Henry #4 (1915 – 1944)

Contact: betty@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Humke, Kaput

----Source: Scrapbook of Bertha and Caroline (Wehrmann) Volk 1930-1950’s

Humke, Herbert Henry #3 (1915 – 1944)

Herbert Henry Humke was born December 7, 1915 on his parents’ farm in the Town of Warner. He attended school in the Decker District and from there went to Greenwood High School from which he graduated with the class of 1934. A year later he attended the Wausau Vocational School and from there entered the employ of the Mosinee Times where he remained until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on April 29, 1941, and lfeft the next day for Chanute Field near Rantoul, Ill., after graduating there as an Airplane Mechanic he was transferred to Barksdale Field near Shreveport, La., near Columbus, Miss., and took up Link Flying later becoming an instructor in that branch. In March 1943 he went to Maxwell Field, Montgomery Alabama and began training as a Flying Cadet. From there he was transferred to Shaw Field, Camden, S.C. and from there to Freeman Field, Seymour, Ind., where he graduated on February 9, 1944 and received his Silver Wings, and after a leave, returned to Maxwell Field, Ala. to practice.

He was married there on February 26, 1944 to Miss Lillian Kaput. They then went to St. Louis, Mo. and Lincoln, Neb. for short stays and then to Boise, Idaho, to complete his flying practice in the U.S.A.

In July he was given a short leave and came home to say goodbye to relatives and friends.

He landed in England the middle of August and killed in action on September 20, 1944. His last letter to his wife was received here on September 30 and was dated September 20 the day of his death.