Lewis Franklin Pardue was born in Washington County, Tennessee, the son of John Houston Pardue and Ada Pearl Murray. Husband of Victoria Miller.
Tampla, Fla., July 12 1944 – Five crew members are missing and five others escaped with only minor injuries after parachuting form a Drew Field heavy bomber that was engaged in a combat training flight in the Tiger Lake section of central Florida yesterday, Crew Field public relations offficer announced today.
The missing fliers were listed as
Flight Officer Lawrence E. O’Rourke, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Flight Officer Lewis F. Pardue, Greenville, Tenn. (bombardierP
Cpl. Harry Phillips, Shenandoah, Pa.
PFC John W. Dodd, Washington, D.C.
T/Sgt. Al L. Leazer, Greensboro, N.C.
Other members of the crew who were said to have escaped with only minor injuries were:
Second Lt. Alcot H. Stower, Hampton Falls, N.H.
Second Lt. Carl G. Meeks, Los Angeles
PFC Durand H. Huggins, Gilmer, Texas
Cpl. Leo E. Sullivan, Georgetown, Ark.
PFC Donald E. Gillespie, Arlington, Mass.
An extensive search for the missing men was reported underway.
The Greeneville Sun, 13 Jully 1944
Flight Officer Lewis F. Pardue, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Pardue of this city, was among five crew members reported missing after parachuting from a Drew Field heavy bomber which was engaged in combat training flight in the Tiger Lake Section of Central Florida yesterday, according to an Associated Press Dispatch. Mrs. Pardue (Miss Victoria Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Miller) called her father in law last night, and said that the plane burst into flames at an altitude of 10,000 feet. All of the crew bailed out, and one of the members from Johnson City said he saw Pardue’s parachute open perfectly. His relatives hope that he was able to make a landing in some remote spot, and will soon be located. The young aviator went into service in March, 1943, and has had intensive training since that time. He and his wife had an apartment in Tampa, Fla., and were keeping house there. Mrs. Pardue talked with relatives here again this morning, but here was not later news in regard to her husband. She will remain in Tamp for the present. Mr. and Mrs. Pardue have another son, Pvt. J.H. Pardue, Jr., in the Air Corps and is in training at Amarillo, Texas.
- Rank: Flight Officer
- Date of birth: 16 June 1921
- Date of death: 11 July 1944
- County: Greene
- Hometown: Greeneville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 3rd Army Air Force
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Oak Grove Cemetery, Greeneville, Greene County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar IX, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Lewis F. Pardue
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