Grandson of Casperites Killed In Patrol Duty Over North Sea
Capt. Estelles Wickenkamp, 27, Dies When Bomber Is Shot Down
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wickenkamp received word yesterday of the death in action on April 7th of their grandson, Captain Estelles Wickenkamp, aged 27, while on patrol duty with the British Royal air force over the North Sea.
The British government reported to this parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wickenkamp of Stenen, Sask., that Captain Wickenkamp was leading an eight-plane patrol in a scouting flight near the Ornkey Islands. Two of the planes were shot down by enemy pursuit ships, one of them the Wellington bomber in which Wickenkamp was directing operations. All of the seven men instantly killed. No trace has been found of the plane or its occupants.
Captain Wickenkamp was born in Nebraska, but his parents moved to Saskatchewan about 15 years ago.
Besides his grandparents, other relatives living in Casper include two uncles H. F. and W. G Wickenkamp; an aunt, Mrs. Alma Sehnert West; and six cousins.
I was so sad to see this post. Over the course of all these letters, I have gotten to know Estelles. I was hoping he made it through the war!!!
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a great blog series. I always looked to see if there was another letter waiting in my feedly. It is so easy to imagine how his family felt the same way about the written letters.
I was so sad to see this post. Over the course of all these letters, I have gotten to know Estelles. I was hoping he made it through the war!!!
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a great blog series. I always looked to see if there was another letter waiting in my feedly. It is so easy to imagine how his family felt the same way about the written letters.
Hi Sierra,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Larry Grant (Wickenkamp) Estelles was my dad Richard's brother. Uncle Estelles died a year before I was born. My aunt Esther was his twin sister.
Fortunately she and my grandmother saved his letters. He was a prolific writer and gave me an insight into Estelles the man. Both my dad and aunt loved him dearly and spoke of him often.
Thanks for caring and sharing.