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Personnel

Lt

Merrill W. TOBUREN

Merrill Toburen

Article on Merrill W. Toburen (courtesy of Laura Shivers)

Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 351st Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Navigator
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown

Additional 100th Service Notes

Status: CPT
Comments: 21 JAN 45 MANNHEIM

Media Articles

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Media ItemTypePageVolume/IssueBroadcast SourceTimeDescriptionFile
Merrill Toburen and four brothers serve overseasPrintThe Manhattan Mercury April 16 194512:00 am
Merrill Toburen describes V-2 contrailsPrintThe Manhattan Mercury Dec 18 194412:00 am
Merrill Toburen promoted to 1st LTPrintThe Manhattan Mercury Deb 20 194512:00 am

Comments and Notes

Memo 1:
CREW


Lt Carl J.Hedin P NC
Lt John S.Norton CP CT 2/10/44 KASSEL
Lt Merrill W.Toburen N CT 21/1/45 MANNHIEM (BRIDGES)
Lt Everett E.Linn B CT 17/3/45 RUHLAND & PLAUEN
S/Sgt Geor&e J.Robinson R KIA 31/12/44 HAMBURG
S/Sgt James W.Shepard E KIA 31/12/44 HAMBURG
Sgt Leo O.Murphy BT POW 31/12/44 HAMBURG
Sgt Fred Horcasitas WG KIA 31/12/44 HAMBURG
Sgt Frank S.Sauls TG POW 31/12/44 HAMBURG

351st Sqdn. Crew,as above, appears as Crew #50 on Combat Crew Roster of 18/9/44.
On 5/8/44 Norton was CP on the crew of N.P.Scott and Toburen was Nav on crew of J.P.Ernst.

The five above enlisted men were with the crew of Floyd E.Henderson on 31/12/44. Henderson, himself,was CP on the crew of R.L.Stevenson when that crew joined the 100th Group on 14/7/44. When this crew arrived at the 100th in late July 1944, the CP was 2nd Lt.Milton H. LaFranchi who Ct on 4/3/45. Also on the crew was Cpl. John R.Nickolls,a gunner.
Memo 2:
MERRILL W. TOBUREN
1919 - 2015 |
MERRILL W. TOBUREN Obituary
Merrill Wayne "Mike" Toburen, 95, died Thursday, June 18, 2015 at his home. He was the ninth child of the eleven children born to Edward and Anna (Richter) Toburen on their homestead near Cleburne, Kansas. Mike was born on November 15, 1919, and was the last surviving member of his family. The family moved to an area near Colby, Kansas during the Depression. Mike graduated from Colby High School with honors in 1939. That summer the family relocated to Manhattan, Kansas where Edward and his brother John built houses. Mike attended Kansas State University until he enlisted for WWII where he served in the Air Corps as did four of his brothers. He was stationed in England with the 100th Bomb Group as a navigator for B- 17s. After the war he returned to Kansas State, graduated in the spring of 1948, and on August 10th married Martha Jane Adams. In 1953, Mike went to work for Colgate Palmolive in Kansas City, Kansas, retiring after 33 years as Personal Care Products Manager. Mike was a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity. From 1961-63 he was a Merriam City Council member. Mike also served as a Boy Scout Committeeman, and Deacon & Elder at Overland Park Presbyterian Church. Mike is survived by Martha, his beloved wife of 66 years, and their four sons: Rev. Michael (Dr. Paulette Case) and their children Matthew (Denise Gagner) and their daughter, Willa; Elizabeth Smith and her sons, Henry & Nathan. Mark (Carol Salvo) and their children Andrew (Cristy Bettes) and their children Zachary, Tanner, Callie Jane; Stephen and his daughter, Bailey; and Christine Murray Marshall (Melissa Kehl) Also surviving are special cousins: Alan Fryer and sister, Kathryn (Fryer) Hoefer. A memorial service for Mike will be held Monday, 11:00am at Overland Park Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS, with a lunch in his honor following. The Amos Family Funeral Home, Crematory, Chapels. 913-631-5566 amosfamily.com
Published in Kansas City Star on June 21, 2015
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=merrill-w-toburen&pid=175124132&fhid=4643#sthash.jIRKcGFz.eYvxHSYj.dpuf

Crew List

1st Crew List

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Rank Name Pos Status
LT HEDIN, Carl J. P NOC
Lt LaFRANCHI, Milton H. CP CPT
Lt TOBUREN, Merrill W. NAV CPT
LT LINN, Everett E. BOM CPT
T/SGT SHEPARD, James W. TTE KIA
T/SGT ROBINSON, George J. ROG KIA
S/SGT MURPHY, Leo O. BTG POW
S/SGT HORCASITAS, Fred WG KIA
S/Sgt SAULS, Frank S. TG POW