Blairite’s Husband Injured Gravely in crash of Plane

Lieutenant Erwin L. Meyer, student pilot of the 25th army air forces glider training detachment near Denton, Texas, was gravely injured and his civilian instructor, Henry Francis, was killed Sunday afternoon when their craft plunged to earth near Whitesboro, Texas, on the Gainesville-Sherman highway.

Lieutenant Meyer, husband of the former Bette Compton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Compton of Blair, is still in critical condition.

A press telegram to The Pilot-Tribune last night reported that he was suffering from a brain concussion and other severe injuries.

Mrs. Meyer was residing in Texas with her husband, having recently resigned from her position with the Blair Safeway store. Her mother left late Monday to join her.

Lieutenant Meyer is reported in the medical-surgical clinic at Gainesville, attended by medical officers from the station hospital at nearby Camp Howze. Cause of the accident it is learned, are being investigated by a board of army officers.

#2-Pilot Tribune 25 March 1943

Condition of Meyer Worse

Pneumonia Develops; Crash Victim Conscious But Once In 11 Days

The condition of Lieutenant Erwin L. Meyer, victim of an aircraft crash near Whitesboro, Texas, March 14, took a sudden turn for the worse Tuesday night.

Lieutenant Meyer, husband of the former Bette Compton of Blair, developed pneumonia at the medical-surgical clinic at Gainesville, Texas.

He has been unconscious during the 11 days since the crash except for a few moments one day.

Lieutenant Meyer's instructor, Henry Francis, was killed in the crash.

Mrs. Meyer and her mother, Mrs. John M. Compton, have been at Gainesville since a short time after the crash.

The crash victim is a student pilot of the 25th army air forces glider training detachment near Denton, Texas.

#3-Pilot Tribune 1 April 1943

Lt. Meyer Succumbs

Plane Crash Injuries Fatal Thursday To Husband Of Blair Girl

Injuries received March 14 in a plane crash near Whitesboro, Texas, proved fatal late Thursday night to Lieutenant Ervin Meyer, 25, whose husband is the former Betty Compton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Compton of north of Blair. His civilian instructor, Henry Francis, also was killed by the crash.

Mrs. Meyer had joined her husband at Denton, Texas, earlier this year, and was with him during the 11 days he was in Medical and Surgical hospital at Gainesville, Texas.

At the time of the accident Lieutenant Meyer was training with the army air forces glider training detachment as a liaison pilot. When news of his death was received at Denton, he was granted the liaison “wings” as posthumous honor.

The body was brought to Lincoln where funeral services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran church. Burial followed in Lincoln Memorial Park. Six officers from the Lincoln Air Base served as pallbearers.

Born at Roca, near Lincoln, in 1917, Lieutenant Meyer joined the army April 30, 1942, and was stationed at Camp Grant, Illinois, then at Camp Carson, Colorado, as a veterinarian technician. He was then recommended for officer candidate school and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was commissioned in January.

He and Miss Compton had been married May 2, 1942.

Surviving besides his wife are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Meyer of Lincoln, and a sister, Mildred, in Lincoln.

#4-Enterprise 1 April 1943

Husband Of Blair Girl Dies Of Crash Injuries

(Photo)

Lieut. Ervin L. Meyer Unconscious 11 Days Died March 25th

Lieutenant Ervin L. Meyer, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. John Compton and husband of their daughter, Betty, passed away last Thursday, March 25th as the result of a plane crash on March 14th. At that time, the pilot was instantly killed and Lieut. Meyer rendered unconscious as the result of a concussion from which he never recovered.

He never regained consciousness.

Deceased was born at Roca, Nebraska, a little town near Lincoln; he was 25 years of age. He attended the State Agricultural School at Lincoln from which he graduated and was later appointed as Dairy Herd Inspector. In this capacity he came to this county and here met Miss Betty Compton who on May 2, 1942 he married.

Prior to this on April 30th of the same year he entered the service and was sent to Camp Grant, Ill. as a veterinarian and technician. From Camp Grant he was sent to Camp Carson, Ill. then to Fort Sill, Okla., and later to Texas. Here his wife joined him and it was here he experienced the plane crash that resulted in his death. He received the commission of Second Lieutenant on January 7th.

The accident occurred while he and the pilot were making aerial observations for the field artillery. The cause of the crash is unknown. After his death he was granted an honorary set of wings from the Army Air Force Glider Detachment.

A military funeral was held last Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church, Lincoln with the pall bearers members of the Lincoln Air Base.

#5-Pilot Tribune 11 Nov 1943

Announcement has been made of the birth of a 6 ½ pound baby daughter Ruth Ellen, to Mrs. Betty Compton Meyer of Blair, Saturday, Nov. 6. Mrs. Meyer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Compton and her infant daughter are at Dodge County hospital in Fremont, where attendants describe their condition as very good.

Lt. Ervin Meyer, the baby’s father, died March 25, 1943, of injuries received in a plane crash near Whitesboro, Tex. March 14. He was enlisted in the army air corps.

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