Ferdinand M. Kjar was born on August 11, 1920, in Moorefield, Frontier County, Nebraska. He was the son of George Peter Kjar and Sena Pedersen Kjar. He was married to Wilma Elizabeth Jorgensen Heins. He served in the 786th Bomber Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator of B-24H #42-50336, nicknamed “Pale Ale,” during World War II.

On February 20, 1945, the “Pale Ale” departed RAF Attlebridge on a bombing mission against Nuremberg, Germany. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the mission was recalled while the formation was over Belgium, and the bombers turned back toward England. During the return flight, “Pale Ale” suffered a catastrophic control failure when its control cables reportedly snapped, causing the aircraft to enter a steep and uncontrollable spin. Realizing that the bomber could not be saved, the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. Most of the crew successfully abandoned the aircraft, but two crewmen remained trapped in the forward section. Although the pilot had an opportunity to escape, he remained aboard and attempted to regain control of the Liberator long enough for the trapped men to get out. His efforts were unsuccessful, and the aircraft, still carrying its bomb load, crashed near Dergneau, Belgium, and exploded on impact. The pilot and the two trapped crewmen were killed, while the crewmen who successfully bailed out survived the crash.

2Lt Kjar was one of the crewmen who were trapped and killed. He is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com, weremember.abmc.gov