Columbus, OH : Officer from Norwalk dies in Army air crash on Sunday, August 13, 2017

First Lieutenant William E. Schlachter, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Schlachter, 14 Jackson St., was among the five crewmen killed when their Army Air Force Flying Foretress crashed yesterday, two miles east of the Topeka, Kan. Army airfield.

Lt. Schlachter, the third oldest in a family of 10 children, was one of seven crew men aboard, according to the airbase officials. Two of the survivors were rushed to the Topeka Veterans Hospital where their condition was described as "fair."

The big B-17 plane, an Army spokesman said, was on a routine training flight when it crashed on a farm and immediately burst into flames. Cause of the crash was not known.

Lt. Schlachter, who was graduated from Norwalk High School with the class of 1941, entered the service Jan. 28, 1943. He was transferred overseas in November, 1944, during which time he was awarded the Air Medal with two oakleaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the European Theater Medal with battle stars.

Surviving, besides his parents, are sisters, Mrs. Mark Betschman, Monroeville; Mrs. B.L. Heyman and Mrs. Chet Steele, both of Norwalk; Jane, Verna, Gertrude, Joanne and Patricia, all at home; and Richard, also at home.

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Officer from Norwalk dies in Army air crash