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 Captain
Denzil Lawrence
Kathman, (1922-2003) was born in Chateau, Montana,
6 June 1922, the son of August
and Hazel Hynes Kathman. The family moved to Spokane and lived in North Hill until
1928, then moved to Lind where he graduated from Rogers High School in 1940.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941, graduated from Aerial Gunnery School,
then entered Air Force pilot training in 1942.
He received the silver wings of the United States Army
Air Force in Class 43-H from Marfa, Texas [See the
graduation Dance announcement] [invitation card] [see
graduation
announcement][see the class
book] & from flight school on August 30, 1943 [see
the orders] along with several other members of the Second Emergency
Rescue Squadron.
He then was transferred to
Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana to begin his
Transition
Flight
Training
in the PBY-5A.
Denny also received the Gold Wings of a Naval Aviator at Pensacola
Naval Air Station in January 1944 after completing the Navy syllabus.
Denny and other 2nd ERS members were transferred to
Gulfport Field, Mississippi and eventually
Keesler Field,
Biloxie, Mississippi to complete the Air Sea Rescue Training required by
the USAAF. Once complete, the Second Emergency moved to California to
begin the transition to the Pacific Theater to join the war effort.
Captain Kathman flew 98 combat
missions for a total of 696 combat hours, and was awarded the
Purple Heart
and several Air Medals.
[General Order
No. 81][General
Order No. 162][General
Order No. 453][General
Order No. 666]
He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain.
Denzil passed away 31 December 2003 in Issaquah, Washington at the age of
81.
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