Major Vernon A. Boehle was born on 26 May 1915 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA, the second of the three sons of Arthur Anthony Boehle (1891-1971) and Elizabeth C. Boehle née Miller (1889-1963). The United States Federal Census of 1930 shows him living in Perry Township, Marion County, Indiana, USA, and the 1940 census return listed him in Edgewood, Anderson Township, Marion County, Indiana.
On 6 March 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a sergeant and came to England on 28 August 1942 where he was assigned to No.71 Eagle Squadron based at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire. On 29 September 1942 the squadron, together with the other two Eagle squadrons, was transferred to the US Army Air Forces, becoming the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group and was based at RAF Debden. On 9 September 1943, while returning to RAF Debden from a bomber escort mission, his engine failed in his Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aeroplane forcing him to parachute into the English Channel. He spent 43 hours in the water before he was rescued.
He was transferred to the 362nd Fighter Group on 23 November 1943 until 1944. He left the air force holding the rank of Major and was awarded the Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Silver Star and the World War II Victory Medal.
On 29 November 1947 he married Katherine Stockhuetter (1914-2006) and they had one son, Dale Vernon Boehle (1950-2010). He died, aged 61 years, on 26 April 1977 and was buried in Section 1-PE, Lot 1211, Sp-AA, in the Calvary Cemetery, 435 West Troy Avenue, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
