Pilot Tribune 6 Dec 1945

Elmer Clayborn, 21, Killed in Plane Crash

County Boy Dies in South

Son of Herman Pair Meets Death Friday in Crash at Jacksonville

Body Returned To Herman For Burial

Elmer Claborn, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Claborn of Herman, was killed Friday when the navy airplane on which he was radio man crashed in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Fla. Immediate details on the tragedy were not available.

Young Claborn, entered the service July 23, 1943, a short time following his graduation from high school, and attended radio school in Memphis in 1944. Later he attended gunnery school at Jacksonville. He was an air crew instructor at Jacksonville in the latter part of 1944 and early in 1945.

Member of Large Family

The Herman youth was born Oct. 1, 1924, and was graduated from Herman high school in May, 1943.

Surviving are his parents; four brothers, Eldred, in the navy, Levi, jr., in overseas service, and Billy and Bobbie at home; and three sisters, Eloise, Betty and Shirley Jean, all at home.

The body was returned to Herman Tuesday night. Military services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Herman Legion Hall, burial following in Herman cemetery. Truhlsen Mortuary is in charge.

Pilot Tribune 13 Dec 1945

Rites for Plan Victim

Military Services Held For Elmer Claborn, Killed In Crash

Military funeral services were held at the American Legion hall in Herman Sunday at 2 p.m. for Elmer Claborn, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Claborn of Herman. Young Claborn, a navy man almost 2 ½ years, was killed Dec. 1 when the plane on which he was a radio man crashed near Jacksonville, Fla.

The Rev. A. W. Clarke of Arlington, former Herman Methodist pastor at Herman, had charge of the services. Pallbearers were Floyd Sheets, Raymond Sheets, Byron Reid, Charles Brodersen, Kenneth Wachter and Edward Case. Interment was in Herman cemetery.

Claborn enlisted in the navy July 23, 1943, a few months after his graduation from Herman high school. While in Herman he was a member of the Baptist Sunday School.

Note: Date of Death is 30 Nov. 1945 per sister Eloise Green.

Note: Buried in Herman Cemetery, Plot 3.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~