Memorial

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Melvin Carlson was raised on a farm south of Sisseton, South Dakota. He and his siblings went to a one-room school, where all eight grades were taught. His sister, Florence Shurtleff, remembers that because it was during the Depression, all of their toys were homemade, they had many books that they read over and over, and they had three jigsaw puzzles that they put together a lot. Melvin’s chores were bringing in wood and corncobs for the firestove. He also had to feed the farm animals, such as cows, horses, and pigs. He and his siblings also herded the cows, which was not always an easy task.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 16 October 1943 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and was sent overseas on 10 February 1945.

The airplane was on its 110th mission without aborting and was hit by flak north of Brux. The No. 2 engine was smoking and was feathered. Bombs were dropped on the third bomb run and the target was crossed with the formation. It then slipped off to the left and exploded in the air approximately three minutes after it started descending. Six parachutes were seen. The first three came out together, then three a bit later. One jump was delayed. The men in the rear of the B-17 went out the waist hatch. Sgt. Melvin C. Carlson jumped first, followed by Sgts. Walter E. Smith and Luis L. Contreras. Other crewmen jumped from the nose hatch. Sgt. Contreras landed separately from the rest of his crew, sought shelter and was captured by angry civilians. He witnessed an unknown airman being shot by the civilians, was beaten and abused and placed in a city jail for four days.

S/Sgt. Edward G. Eschinger and Sgt. Carlson were killed. They are believed to have been killed by civilians after a successful parachute landing. Six other crew members were taken prisoner.

In 1947 his remains were recovered from a common grave of two in Mohorn.