Iowa's World War Ace Has Military Rites in London
London—(AP)—Full military honors were accorded Major
John J. Seerley, a native of Burlington, Ia., at burial services Tuesday.
Major Seerley, U. S. Army, of Chicago, Ill., was killed Saturday in an automobile accident in Oxfordshire.
He died a few hours before he was to have received the Silver Star and Air medal for conscientious service and gallantry in establishing the maximum fighter protection for American heavy bombers during air raids.
The major was combat operations officer for the United States Eighth fighter command at the time of his death. He was 45 years old.
Major Seerley was Iowa's only ace in world war I. He went back into service in January, 1941 as a captain.
He took 500 hours of flying on his own time, and although over age for flight duty, was permitted to take the air.
Waterloo Daily Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) - Wednesday, August 25, 1943
Linear Mode
