Elmo Dohrman: High Flying WWII Hero
Exploring my ancestry and its stories has ignited a new interest, even for someone who has never been particularly interested in history. But there are stories that spark awe, tales of extraordinary bravery that define the human spirit, even in the darkest of times. One such story hails from the turbulent skies of World War II. Where my Granduncle, Elmo Dohrman, embarked on harrowing missions as the pilot of a B-24 bomber. Every flight in the “flying coffin” was a perilous dance with death. In this blog post, I’ll share a glimpse into the experiences of my granduncle and his crew. A group of young men whose valor and determination would leave a mark on history. Join me as we step into the cockpit and soar through the clouds to uncover pieces of his remarkable journey.
Ancestor Spotlight - my Granduncle:
Elmo Henry Dohrman
B. March 16, 1921, Stover, Missouri
D. June 12, 2002, Dallas, Texas
Elmo’s Early Days:
In the year 1921, in the small town of Stover, Missouri, Elmo was born to Henry Dohrman and Magdalena “Lena” Duvel-Dohrman, my great-grandparents. The roots of their family trees trace back to ancestors who migrated from Germany to America.
In today’s world, the name Elmo is synonymous with a character from Sesame Street. But the name Elmo derives from names ending with the old German element “helm”, meaning “helmet, protection”, such as Guglielmo or Anselmo. The name is also derived from Erasmus, from the old Italian short form Ermo.
Elmo’s parents, Henry and Lena, were married in 1909 and had 3 children:
1912: Bernice Dohrman-Lowe
1915: Hilma Dohrman-Jolly (my grandmother)
1921: Elmo Dohrman
Elmo’s father, Henry, was employed in Stover as a salesperson at Kipp & Co, a general merchandise store owned by Henry Kipp. During my mother’s early childhood, she and her mother briefly lived with Henry and Lena, while my grandfather was away fighting in WWII. At the tender age of 2-3, my mom fondly recalls Henry’s delightful tradition of bringing candy home from the store and discreetly stashing it away in a cabinet, creating a treasure hunt for my mom.
Henry held education in high regard, evident by his active role on the Stover school board. What truly sets him apart is his progressive stance on women’s education, a rarity during his era. Remarkably, amidst the challenges of the Great Depression, he sent both of his daughters to college. Bernice pursued a career in teaching, while Hilma embarked on a journey to become a nurse. Reflecting on the opportunities Henry bestowed upon these women when such support was rare, I am profoundly moved.
World War II Service:
According to official enlistment records, Elmo joined the U.S. Army’s Air Corps branch, on August 19, 1940 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A mere 19 years old, he stood 6’2” and weighed in at 160 pounds. His dedicated service continued until November 16th, 1945. Sadly, during Elmo’s overseas service, his father, Henry, passed away in 1945.
In early 2023, a message from Arthur Giguere reached me through my ancestry.com account. It was a delightful surprise to discover that Arthur’s father, Joseph Giguere, served alongside my Uncle Elmo during the war. Arthur’s passion for his father’s story shone through as he shared a treasure trove of captivating details and photographs chronicling Elmo, Joseph, and their crew’s time flying in the B-24 Liberator during World War II.
FLIGHT CREW FORMATION (details and photos from Arthur Giguere):
It seems this flight crew came together for training shortly after D-Day in June of 1944. This assumption is based on Joseph Giguere’s attendance at Aerial Gunner School at Tyndall Field, Florida in May and June of 1944, followed by Air Crew Training in Colorado. It’s likely that other gunners attended training about the same time and potentially at the same site as Giguere.
Co-Pilot Joseph Guzlas received his training in what is now Waco, Texas. Arthur speculates that Elmo Dohrman attended pilot training concurrently with Guzlas, possibly even at the same location in Waco, Texas. The other members of the crew, including the Flight Engineer, Radio Operator, Navigator, and Bombardier underwent training at separate locations. Pueblo, Colorado appears to be the site where they assembled together to undergo additional training and certify as a cohesive flight crew.
Crew Photo: Training in Pueblo, Colorado - February 11, 1945
Crew Photo The Lacy Corinne - April 1945
The Crew in front of “The Lady Corinne” (we believe). Notes: Marston mats on the ground; no crew flew the same plane all of the time.Back row L to R: Nose Gunner Joe Giguere, Top Gunner Francis Howrilka, Tail Gunner Ray Justice, Radio Ops Clark, Ball Gunner Byrnas, Engineer Rittenhouse.
Front row L to R: Pilot Elmo Dohrman, Navigator Campbell, Co-Pilot Joseph Guzlas. Photo by Bombardier Van Winkler.
Partial Crew Photos - Spring 1945
Back L - R: Francis Howrilka (Top Gunner), Elmo Dohrman (Pilot), Clark (Radio Ops).Front row L - R: Joe Giguere (Nose Gunner), Rittenhouse (Engineer), Byrnas (Ball/Belly) Gunner.
UNIT PATCHES
Elmo and the crew served as a members of the 15th Army Air Force within the 456th Bombardment Group, specifically with the 747th Bombardment Squadron. In those wartime days, each squadron wore its own unique patch. The availability of standardized unit patches fluctuated due to material constraints and rationing. This particular patch for the 747th Bombardment Squadron was the creation of Joseph Giguere, meticulously fashioned from leather.
LIFE IN ITALY
The crew primarily operated out of Stornara Airfield, located about 5-10 miles from Cerignola, Italy, in close proximity to the Adriatic Sea. In January 1944, the American forces arrived to transform the area near Cerignola into an airfield. However, the airfield was deplorable, having previously been under German occupation and subsequently subjected to American bombings.The people of Cerignola were also enduring deplorable conditions. Mussolini’s two-decade long rule had forced young men to serve in his army. German forces then occupied the region and upon their departure, they plundered whatever they could find. This left the elderly men, women and children of Cerignola without food, clothing, medical supplies, and transportation. To the Italians, the Americans seemed incredibly rich with their abundance of food, uniforms, gasoline, weapons, vehicles, planes, and much more.
Over 2,000 young American men set up living quarters near the airfield. Tent cities were set up among the olive groves on bare, damp ground that became muddy when it rained. Each tent contained 3-6 men, sleeping on cots. The men were exposed to the harsh winters and used make-shift stoves to keep warm.
Base Camp Photos
Base Camp Map, Stornara Airfield
THE B-24 “LIBERATOR”
The B-24 aircraft was known as the “Liberator”, but the crews who operated them often called them “Flying Coffins”. These planes were classified as heavy bombers, capable of carrying many bombs and traveling long distances. Each bomb weighed between 500 to 1000 pounds. The Stornara Airfield, constructed on converted farmland, features a surface covered in steel matting. This amplified the inherent risks associated with takeoff and landing, especially for heavy loaded bombers like the B-24.
The B-24 proved to be one of the hardest aircrafts to pilot. Pilots relied solely on their left arm for steering, allowing the right arm to manage throttles and switches. Maintaining flight formation for hours fully exhausted the left arm. Response times were meticulously calculated, requiring pilots to avoid any sudden movement. The B-24 had an impressive wingspan of 110 feet and the fuselage stretched 66 feet in length. Fully loaded with bombs, it could weigh a staggering 60,000 pounds. Equipped with ten machine guns, it boasted four 1,200 horsepower engines, and the loss of even one engine posed a significant threat to the aircraft’s stability.
Conditions in the plane are beyond my imagination. There were no flight attendants with drink service. Missions often took 8 or more hours. At high altitude, frigid winds would howl through the open waist windows, leaving the gunners exposed. These aircrafts were not pressurized, so once they reached 10,000 feet, the crew had to wear uncomfortable rubber oxygen masks for hours. The masks often froze to their faces. The crew also wore electronically heated flight suits, which became ineffective if shorted out or damaged. Additional layers of bulky clothing further hindered their mobility.
Crews experienced an alarming casualty rate of slightly over fifty percent due to the dangers of daylight bombing, training flights, and other factors. At the start of its operation, the 15th Army Air Force had 3,544 B-24’s and 1,407 B-17’s. Of these, 1,756 B-24’s and 624 B-17’s were shot down in combat.
Elmo, Joseph Giguere, and their crew are credited with five combat bombing missions in what was called the Central European Theatre of operations. (A theatre or theater of operations is an area encompassing critical military activities which may include airspace, land, and sea regions that are currently or potentially involved in conflict.)
According to Giguere’s official papers, their crew was credited with missions over the Rhineland, Po River Valley, Central Europe (Balkens, Danube), and Northern Apennines. They also flew other missions in and out of Africa, likely to resupply crews, weapons, equipment, and other supplies.
The crew was comprised of individuals of diverse heritage, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Sweden. Many were raised speaking languages other than English in their homes. I wonder how often thoughts of their ancestral homelands crossed their minds during these bombing missions.
According to Joseph Giguere’s notes, following the conclusion of combat operations in Europe, they were granted a period of leave. They were then relocated to Fort Myers, Florida for specialized jungle training and the introduction of a new type of bomber, the B-29. Their original assignment was to go to the Pacific Theater to engage with Japan. However, the war officially ended on VJ Day, August 15th, 1945. Elmo Dohrman and Joseph Giguere received their discharges in November 1945.
FLIGHT MISSION PHOTOS
Bombing Mission: Kaposvar, Hungary
The target was the railroad in Kapsovar, Hungary. If you look closely, you can see black smoke from the rail cars that were hit.
Bombing Mission: Campia, Romania
Bombing Mission: Moosbierbaum, Austria
After Military Service:
Book Recommendation:
My Family Tree:
Resources/Citations:
1910 & 1920 Federal Census
U.S. Public Records Index
U.S. Army WWII Enlistment Records
Arthur Giguere: official service records from Joseph Giguere and conversations with Joseph Giguere and others that served with Joseph and Elmo
“The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24’s Over German” by Stephen Ambrose
Disclaimer: I am an amateur genealogist, and although I am committed to striving for accuracy in my research, I cannot provide a 100% guarantee of the accuracy of all the information I present. Genealogy involves piecing together historical records and documents, which can sometimes be incomplete, conflicting, or subject to errors. Therefore, I encourage readers to approach the information I provide as a valuable starting point for their own research, verify details independently, and seek professional guidance if needed.
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