Sgt Donald Dean McNeil :United States Air Force 1/9/32 - 9/11/65

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by CL1, Aug 26, 2022.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Buried Harrow Cemetery,nw London

    Sgt Donald Dean McNeil :United States Air Force 1/9/32 - 9/11/65
    Served in Korea
    From Minnesota USA

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  2. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Well, Clive, what an intriguing mystery you have unearthed.

    Sgt Dean was, as you say, from Minnesota (Duluth) but at the time of his death his family were living in Orlando, Florida.

    Not sure what the London connection is. Search on ancestry shows death occurring in Florida. Newspaper is from Orlando

    Regards,

    Dave

    Orlando_Evening_Star_Thu__Nov_11__1965_.jpg
     
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  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    How strange.
    I wonder if we'll find out why he's buried there.
     
  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I was searching for civilian casualties on some very weather worn headstones and came across this headstone.

    There was a United States Air Force base (3rd Air Force)at South Ruislip
    Demolished in 1995

    I have put in a request to the burial registers of the borough to see if they will look for more info
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2022
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  5. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Clinton Sherman Air Force base was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) facility for B-52's:[QUOTEThe 70th Bombardment Wing, along with its 6th Bombardment Squadron and 902d Air Refueling Squadron, replaced the 4123d on February 1, 1963. With B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, the new units conducted strategic bombardment readiness and training and air refueling readiness, training and support operations to meet Air Force global commitments][/QUOTE]
    From: Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base - Wikipedia

    McCoy Air Force base was @ Orlando and is another SAC base, with a long history, notably used by U2 spy planes over Cuba. See: McCoy Air Force Base - Wikipedia

    A 2018 photo shows ORPA between the inscribed United States Air Force and his date of birth. See: Donald Dean McNeil at rest a long way from home

    ORPA in the USAF context appears to be Office of Research and Project Administration, possibly inventory control.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2022
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    David
    The chap appears buried in the UK as the headstone i took a photo of states that. we are trying to find out the mystery of his US death notice and then appearing to be buried in the UK
    As stated there was a large US base in Ruislip which he could have been based at giving a UK bent to the story
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2022
  7. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    One future option would be to contact USAF Europe (in Germany) via: Frequently Asked Questions

    As others have posted recently the USAF generally cares for veterans memorials in the UK, with an official presence at events. It is possible that his grave has simply been forgotten. The gravestone does look rather forlorn now.
     
  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    David the issue is the newspaper cutting stating a local undertakers in the US dealing with it and his headstone/grave being in the UK

    i await the info from the local burial register
     
  9. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    I have been involved in burials a long way from their place of death / home and a local undertaker has contacted a colleague nearer the burial place to undertake the necessary. On that basis, leaving aside expense, I think this explains an Orlando, Florida undertaker appearing in the article; they would have handled any service in Orlando etc.
     
  10. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    And yet in February of 1966 Jean S. McNeil is living in Harrow and about to lose her home in Florida. Foreclosure notice posted 7 February 1966.

    Donald D McNeil married Jean S. Pitcher at Harrow in the June 1958 Quarter.

    Orlando_Evening_Star_Mon__Feb_7__1966_.jpg
     
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  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Thanks mate
    She lived opposite the cemetery
     
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  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Confirmed by the local authority that he is buried in Harrow cemetery.
    Grave number 38-5964
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2022

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