During World War II, Nebraska was home to eleven air bases that filled the sky with planes training aircrews. On June 7, 1944, fifteen B-24 bombers left the Lincoln Army Air Base en route to the west coast. During a thunderstorm, B-24J #44-40758 caught fire, descended to 500 feet, and began circling the town of Chappell, Nebraska, before exploding about two miles southeast of here. All personnel aboard were killed instantly. The ten airmen who died while serving their country were 2nd Lt. Donald S. Wallace of Peculiar, Missouri; 2nd Lt. Colon A. Holland of Waynesboro, Mississippi; 2nd Lt. Frank K. Duffey of Cranford, New Jersey; 2nd Lt. Paul E. Rose of Mammoth Springs, Arkansas; Staff Sergeant Robert E. Rogers of Camilla, Georgia; Staff Sergeant Vance C. Johnson of Stromsburg, Nebraska; Sergeant Bernard T. Clark of New York, New York; Sergeant Ralph A. Young of Anadarko, Oklahoma; Sergeant Peter L. Zamboto of Rochester, New York; and Master Sergeant William E. Webster of Oneonta, New York. All were members of the 866th Bombardment Squadron (H), Seventh Air Force.