Prior to World War II, aviation was still in its infancy. It is estimated that the U.S. lost more than 50,000 air crew members due to combat casualties in World War II. However, 25,000 were due to accidents including more than 15,000 stateside training accidental deaths. Some of these were pilot error but many were due to mechanical failure.

Green County airman Durward F. Bund was one of those casualties during stateside pilot training.

Durward Frederick Bund was born October 5, 1922 in Brooklyn in Green County, Wisconsin to Frederick and Lilian (Baird) Bund.

On the 1930 U.S. Census, the Bund family lived in Brooklyn Village in Green County. The household included father Frederich, mother Lilian, and sons Durward (7) and Raymond (3). Father Frederich was a drayman working for wages.

On the 1940 US Census, the Bund family lived in Brooklyn in Green County. Father Fred was an operator of a truck line working on his own account.

On June 30, 1942, Durward Frederick Bund registered in Dane County, Wisconsin for the WWII Draft. He was 19, employed at Fouberg Place Box Co. and lived in Madison. His father was his next of kin, living in Brooklyn, Wisconsin.

From the December 10, 1943 The Capital Times (Madison, Wis.) article titled “Durward Bund Missing on Flight,” the article stated “Aviation Cadet Durward Bund, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederich A. Bund, Brooklyn, has been reported missing since Dec. 1 while making a solo routine night flight at the basic flying school at Courtland, Ala. Upon completion of this course, he would have gone on to advanced flying training. Bund entered service Jan. 27, 1943, and trained at Miami Beach., Fla. A graduate of Brooklyn high school, he attended Carroll college and the University of Wisconsin.”

From the December 22, 1943 The Capital Times (Madison, Wis.) article titled “Durward Bund’s Body, Plane Found,” the article stated “The body of Aviation Cadet Durward F. Bund… was found with his wrecked plane near Iuka, Miss., today...

“Cadet Bund was the pilot of an army plane which crashed on a training flight from the army air base at Courtland, Ala., the night of Dec. 1. He was making a solo routine flight at the time of the crash...”

From the December 23, 1943 The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) article titled “Crashed Plane Found: Ship Missing Since Dec. 1 Located Near Iuka, Miss.” the article stated that “Aviation Cadet Durward F. Bund of Brooklyn, Wis., pilot, apparently was killed in the crash. Seven other pilots lost their lives when a flight of 19 training planes became lost and only 11 made safe landings.

An investigation board from the eastern flying training command at Maxwell Field Tuesday announced that it may be assumed ‘that the student flyers failed to follow “lost procedure” as there were no indications that sabotage, mechanical failure or bad weather could have caused the crashes.’”

From the December 23, 1943 The Capital Times (Madison, Wis.) article titled “Bund Services to Be Held Sunday,” the article stated “Military funeral services for Durward F. Bund, 21, aviation cadet, who was killed Dec. 1 on a training flight from Courtland, Ala., will be held here Sunday…

“He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Bund, Brooklyn, and one brother, Raymond at home…”

Aviation Cadet Bund’s death status was DNB — Died Non-battle. He is listed on the World War II Honor List for Green County, Wisconsin.

Aviation Cadet Bund was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Brooklyn Township.

Thank you, Aviation Cadet Durward Frederick Bund, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.