During World War II, the 62nd Bombardment Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps was first stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah. In July of 1941 they moved to Geiger Field, Washington. They were a part of the 5th Air Force. Some units were sent to Australia in 1942. They moved to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in February of 1942 and began training on B-24 Liberator planes. By late 1943 most of the units began shipping out for overseas duties in the South Pacific Theater of war. Some additional training occurred at Smoky Hill Army Air Field in Kansas beginning April of 1944 and Dalhart Army Air Field in Texas beginning in May of 1944.

Lafayette County airman Merlin O. Brager was first assigned to the 469th but was later transferred to the 62nd Bombardment Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Merlin Orion Brager was born on November 6, 1921 in Iowa County, Wisconsin to John and Dora (Severson) Brager. He was baptized at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Brager family was living in Moscow, Township in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The household included father John, mother Dora and children Arnold and Merlin. Father John was a farmer working in general farming on his own account.

*In 1935 they were living in Blanchardville per the 1940 census. {Note: Father Johns’s 1975 obituary gives further Blanchardville connection: “They farmed in the Blanchardville area until 1939 when he moved to Madison...”}

From the 1940 U.S. census, the Brager family was living in Madison in Dane County. The household included father Arnold, mother Dora, son Arnold, daughter-in-law Mary, grandson Jackie Lee and son Merlin. Father John was a laborer at odd jobs, mother Dora was a housewife, son Arnold was a meat packer at a packing plant, Mary was a housewife, and son Merlin was a truck driver for the CCC camp.

On January 3, 1942, Merlin O. Brager enlisted for service in WWII, less than one month after the bombing of Pearl Habor. Brager was single, without dependents. He enlisted in Milwaukee. He had four years of high school and his civilian occupation was “semiskilled mechanics and repairment, motor vehicles.” He was a Private in the Air Corps.

From the July 23, 1942 The Capital Times notice, “Merlin Brager, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brager, 1311 E. Wilson st., has completed training as an aerial gunner in the U. S. army air corps at Las Vegas, Nev., and is now stationed at Davis and Monthan field, Ariz. He enlisted here in January.”

In the July 23, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal, additional information provided stated that Brager was “stationed with the 62nd bombardment squadron…”

In one of his letters he says “On one of the flights coming in from bombing practice the pilot let me take controls of the ship. It was great to be sitting there with one of those bombers in my hands. Keep them coming and we’ll keep them flying.”

From the October 12, 1942 The Wichita Eagle front page article titled ‘8 Perish in Bomber Crash Near Topeka: Another Critically Injured as Army Ship Rams Hill West of Air Base,” the news from Topeka on Oct. 11 stated “Eight persons were killed and one critically injured in the crash of an army bomber on a hillside three miles west of the Topeka air base. 

The plane was on a routine flight, army officials reported. Cause of the crash was not determined immediately…

C. E. Patterson, farmer on whose land the plane crashed, said, ‘I woke up and knew something was wrong.

I ran out and saw something burning.’

He hurriedly dressed and ran to the wreckage, approximately 350 feet from his yard, he said.

‘I listened at the cabin of the plane but couldn’t hear anyone. But someone was calling down toward the stream. I went down to help him.’

(The injured man, he learned later, was Sergeant Price.)

In a few minutes, Patterson added, men and officers from the air base arrived, barring Patterson and other civilians from the scene.”

The article also contained a list of the others who died in the crash.

From the October 12, 1942 The Hutchinson News article titled “Nine Dead In Bomber Crash: Single Survivor Lives But Short Time,” the updated article from Topeka stated “Staff Sgt. James C. Price, Trenton, Ga., died at the Topeka air base hospital today of plane crash injuries which took the lives of eight other bomber crewmen…”

From the front-page story of the October 12, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal titled “Madison Soldier Killed When Bomber Crashes; Merlin O. Brager Among 8 Victims of Kansas Wreck; Staff Sergeant Dies When Plane Falls on ‘Routine Flight’,” the article stated “Staff Sgt. Merlin O. Brager, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brager, 1311 E. Wilson st., was one of eight army fliers killed Sunday in the crash of a B-24 Consolidated army bomber on a hillside three miles west of the Topeka, Kan., air base.

Officials said the plane was on a routine flight. The cause of the wreck was not immediately determined.

Sgt. Brager was graduated in aerial gunnery at Las Vegas, Nev., in July, and then was stationed with the 62nd bombardment squadron at Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Ariz. He enlisted in the army here on Jan. 2.

Sgt. Brager was born in Blanchardville, and was a graduate of Blanchardville high school. He came here with his parents five years ago. He had spent a year and a half in the civilian conservation corps Camp Madison. Before entering the army he was a mechanic at the Stadium garage, Monroe st.

Surviving beside his parents is a brother, Arnold Brager, Winchester st., Madison.

The body will be brought to the Dyrud funeral home here Tuesday. Funeral services…” 

From the October 12, 1942 The Capital Times front page article titled “Local Man, 7 others Killed in Army Bomber Crash: Sgt. Brager is Fatally Hurt Near Topeka; Plane Hits Hillside Near Base in Accident on Sunday,” one new piece of information was that he was “transferred to Topeka about 2 weeks ago.” 

From the October 15, 1942 The Capital Times funeral notice for Staff Sgt. Merlin Brager, the notice stated “Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Merlin Brager, 20, former Madison garage mechanic, who was killed Sunday in the crash of any (sic: an) army bomber near Topeka, Kan., were held today in the Dyrud funeral home, Madison, and in the Blanchardville Lutheran church, with the Rev. Martin Olson officiating. Burial was in the Blanchardville cemetery.”

Staff Sgt. Merlin O. Brager was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. Brager is listed on the WWII Honor Roll with the National Archives for Dane County, Wisconsin.

Thank you, Staff Sergeant Merlin Orion Brager, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.