Jerome Augustus Mykkeltvedt was born on April 23, 1924 in Lyon County Minnesota. His parents were Nels and Nora E. Dahl Mykkeltvedt. His father was born in Norway and worked as a Salesman. His mother was born in Minnesota. There were four children in the family Norman, Irene, Jerome and Roald. His older brother Norman served as a Lt. in WWII and was a Bombardier, he was wounded but did return home safely.

He had enlisted in the Army Air Forces and served during World War II. He had the rank of Captain. Service number was 0692184. Served with 347th Fighter Group, 68th Fighter Squadron as a fighter Pilot.

Mykkeltvedt was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on June 16, 1945. The C-47A #43-36746 carrying 12 officers and men crashed in the New Guinea jungles 15 miles due west of Finschhafen near the native village of Maikisung. Pending official investigation, it is assumed that the plane, which had been on a routine flight from Palowan to Australia, was lost in weather and crashed into a mountain

Jerome A Mykkeltvedt is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Distinguished Flying Cross

★ Air Medal

★ Purple Heart

Crew of C-47A #43-36746: 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group:

Radio Operator: Corp. Harris, Frank R, TX

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Johnson, Roy R, CO

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Lawson, Richard J, CA

Radio Operator: Corp. Leaman, Charles E, Jr., RI

Co Pilot: Capt. Mykkeltvedt, Jerome A, MN

Engineer: T/Sgt. Shaul, Donald A, NE

Passengers on C-47A #43-36746:

Maj. Adams, Lionel P., NC - Group Adjutent

2nd Lt. Cunningham, Thomas J., ME - XIII Fighter Command

Lt. Col. England, Shelby, AR - 347th Fighter Group Operations Officer

Capt. Sabotka, Henry J., MA - Commander of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group

Maj. Willis, Joseph C, Jr., TX – Commanding Office 339th Fighter Squadron

Capt. Windes, Alvin C., MO – Veteran Fighter Pilot

Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country.

_This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project _https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php

www.newspapers.com