LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - AUGUST 2, 2020 by Lynne Belluscio T h e H i s t o r i c a l Society is undertaking a research project that will put stories to the names of the thirty- one men whose names are engraved on the World War II black granite monument on Trigon Park. During this unusual summer, we have had a history intern from Geneseo. Originally, Natalie was to be helping with our summer hands on history program, and learning how to give tours of the Jell-O Gallery, but that all fell through, so we had to come up with another idea. That became the World War II project, which some of you might have read about in the Batavia Daily News, or followed on “LeRoy Then and Now.” As we gather information, on these 31 hometown heroes, I will include an article in the Pennysaver, and I hope if you have additional information you will contact us. We are looking for relatives of these men, or classmates. We plan to dedicate the Trigon monument next Memorial Day. Hugh Pickell was born in LeRoy on August 23, 1919. His parents were Arthur and Isnoma Traxler Pickell. Hugh had three brothers, Merle, Frederick and Elliott. Hugh’s mother died when he was only ten. She was buried in Machpelah Cemetery and her memorial service was held in the cemetery chapel. Hugh was raised by the Hapgood family, who eventually owned the Cheshire Cheese on Randall Road. He graduated from LeRoy High School in 1937 and in the yearbook, his quotation “Still waters run deep.” He headed to Ithaca where he attended Cornell for two years. In 1941, when he was 22, he enlisted in the Army Air Force in New York City and his basic training and flight school were spent at bases in the south. He received his Wings as a 2nd Lieutenant at Kelly Field, Texas, on August 5, 1942. He shipped overseas to Europe on January 14, 1944. Pickell was amember of the 571st Bomber Squadron, 390 Bomber Group and piloted a “Flying Fortress” B17G. His plane, 42-39887, was known as the “Pickle Dropper IV” and had a huge pickle painted on the nose. After many missions, over enemy occupied territory, he was awarded the Air Medal and Cluster f o r e x c e p t i o n a l l y m e r i t o r i o u s achievement. On June 6, 1944, his plane was hit by enemy fire north of Dieppe, France. He tried to pilot the plane back to his base in England, but the plane was seen burning over the English Channel, south of the Straits of Dover. As it descended, it was in a midair collision. The eight crewmen, Pilot, Hugh Pickell; Co Pilot, Roger Beckman; Bombardier, Dick Joseph; Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner, Bob Davis; Radio Operator, Norman Hollis; Ball Turret Gunner, Norman Bean; Waist Gunner, Joe Carnie; Waist Gunner Leroy Aulthouse; and Tail Gunner, Roland Zander, were all seen parachuting into the Channel. Hugh was declared missing in action and his body was never recovered. A year later, on June 6, 1945 he was declared officially dead. Hugh Pickell’s name appears on the wall of the Missing in Action in the American Cemetery in the Ardennes, near Liege, Belgium. He was survived by his father, and three brothers. Pickle Dropper IV