Arthur Ervin “Art” Linrud was born on November 23, 1920, in McHenry County, North Dakota. He was the son of Olia Linrud and Sena Linrud. He was married to Adela Alma Gliege Linrud. Art graduated from Velva High School in 1939 and worked on the Shasta Dam construction in California before joining the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served in the 364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer of the B-17 #42-3436 during World War II.
On October 14, 1943, the B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3436 joined a major Allied mission to bomb Schweinfurt's industrial targets. Known as "Black Thursday," the raid faced fierce resistance, with bombers lacking long-range fighter escorts. The aircraft came under heavy attack from German fighters, suffering critical damage, including hits to its number 2 engine. Around 13:45, the B-17 broke apart midair. The tail section, with two deceased waist gunners, fell near a Dutch coal mine, while the nose section crashed in Germany near Finkenrath. Five crew members survived but were captured; the co-pilot was never found.
TSgt Linrud was taken prisoner, interrogated at Dulag Luft (Frankfurt), and transferred to Stalag XVII B, Krems, Austria, where he spent 18 months as a prisoner of war. He was liberated by the U.S. Army on May 3, 1945, at Brunau, Austria, after a 100-mile forced march and was discharged in November 1945. After his military service, Art helped establish the Rural Velva Fire Department, served on local boards, and was active in civic organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, American Legion, and Elks Lodge. He also held leadership roles at Oak Valley Lutheran Church and on education boards. After retiring in 1985, Art moved to Minot in 1996 and died on September 1, 2012. TSgt Linrud is now buried in the Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, Ward County, North Dakota, USA.
Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com