Memorial

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2nd Lt Maurice A. Vikse attended Golden Empire College of Commerce.

He enlisted in Lincoln, Nebraska on 2 March 1943.

Statement from 2nd Lt Kenneth J. Busse:
"Zenith white 3 circling Nancy at 18,000 ft at 1224. Zenith white 4 called in that his cockpit was filling with smoke, and that he was going to abort. I told him I’d take him back, and he acknowledged. I set up a course for home, throttled back to 23 Hq to allow white 4 to pull-up in position. I then saw him heading approximately 350 degree and in a dive with smoke pouring from his right engine. He entered a cloud and I dove after him. Broke through 3 separate cloud layers hoping to catch sight of him. Circled the area from 3,000 ft on up to 10,000 hoping either to see him on the ground or else heading back. Called him on 3 channels, but didn’t hear from him. After about 20 minutes of this, I headed home. Visibility on the ground was restricted approximately 1 mile. Never saw his chute, or ship."