Eldon Lamont Dunkleberger

     Eldon Lamont Dunkleberger was born on 4 June 1922 at Montoursville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Clarence Edwin Dunkleberger and Eliza M. Roller. Eldon Lamont Dunkleberger married Martha L. O'Dell in 1942.¹ Eldon Lamont Dunkleberger died on 24 December 2001 at Baptist East Hospital, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, at age 79 years, 6 months and 20 days.
     He appeared on the census of 19 April 1930 in the household of Clarence Edwin Dunkleberger and Eliza M. Roller at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The following article about Eldon Lamont was published sometime in 1945 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:

     CITY MAN PILOTS ROCKET-THROWER

     Officer Participating in Thunderbolt Attacks on Retreating Germans

WEAPON'S DETAILS SECRET

     A Williamsport youth is piloting one of several rocket-firing American P-47 Thunderbolts which have been secretly participating in recent attacks on retreating German armored columns in France.

     He is Lt. Eldon Lamont Dunkleberger, husband of the former Martha L. O'Dell, of 1017 High Street, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence D. Dunkleberger, of Williamsport RD 2.

     An Associated Press dispatch last night said two Pennsylvania youths, Lt. Dunkleberger and Lt. John F. Gemender, of Philadelphia, are among the pilots of the rocket firing planes, which are described as sensational in performance as the R.A.F. rcket-bearing Typhoons.

     'While many details of the new weapon still have not been announced,' the dispatch said, 'it can be stated that they throw a highly explosive armor-piercing rocket that will split the toughest Nazi tank in half from either a high or low level.

     'The rocket is a new type American-developed projectile - not the same as the rocket carried by the British Typhoons. The rockets are aimed and fired with the same gun-sight pilots use for strafing.

     'As an example of their potency, Col. Anthony Grossetta, of Tucson, Ariz., commander of one group, said his men knocked out 19 German tanks with 45 rockets in one day.'

     The rockets also are reported to have been found extremely useful in air-raids on enemy airfields.

Number a Secret

     The number of rockets carried by each plane is still a military secret, but 'they are an ideal weapon for tanks and concrete installations,' Grosetta declared.

     All pilots of the rocket firing Thunderbolts were specially trained for the job in the United States and England before going to France with the Ninth Air Force.

     Lt. Dunkleberger enlisted in the Army Air Forces on March 11, 1943, and was graduated as a second lieutenant from the pilot school in advanced single-engine training at Napier Field, Ala. He went overseas last April, first being stationed in Enland and then in France. He wears the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf clusters.

From a scrapbook of: newspaper clippings containing births, marriages and obituaries; Memorial Service Cards; and personal notes; owner: Donna Edler Sayah, 1388 Carey Hill Rd., Montoursville, PA 17754; (570) 435-0890.
His obituary was published on 26 December 2001 His obituary stated:

     Eldon L. Dunkleberger, of Montgomery, AL, died suddenly Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at Baptist East Emergency Room. He was born June 4, 1922, in rural Montoursville, the son of Clarence E. and Eliza Roller Dunkleberger. He and his wife, the former Martha L. O Dell observed their 59th wedding anniversary Aug. 22.

     Eldon was retired after 41 years residence in Trout Run and moved with his wife to Montgomery, AL in 1994. He had worked at the former AVCO Manufacturing plant (now Textron) in Williamsport and was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 691. He was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was a decorated fighter pilot.

     Surviving, besides his wife, are two sons, Thomas of Montoursville and Craig of Anaheim, CA; two daughters, Dee Hardy and Cheri Ortiz, both of Montgomery, AL; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters and five brothers.

     White Chapel-Greenwood Funeral Home, Montgomery AL, will handle the arrangements and a memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.