Glen A. Loban

Photo courtesy of Steve Dixon.	NAME Glen Archibald Loban	NICKNAME —	SERVICE NUMBER O-8007
	UNIT VMO-251 Pilot	HOME OF RECORD Joliet & East Avenue, LaGrange, IL raised Ventura, CA	NEXT OF KIN Wife, Mrs. Cleo Lenzi Loban
	DATE OF BIRTH 1921	ENTERED SERVICE 1941	DATE OF LOSS January 29, 1943
	REGION Solomon Islands	CAMPAIGN / AREA Guadalcanal	CASUALTY TYPE Missing In Action Declared Dead February 19, 1945
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS On 29 January 1943, a flight of VMO-251 fighters was returning to Henderson Field from a mission to Munda. The weather worsened, and visibility over Guadalcanal itself was poor. As the planes formed up for their approach two pilots – First Lieutenant Wayne W. Christian and First Lieutenant Glen A. Loban – attempted to enter the landing circle at the same time. The two Wildcats collided and fell from the sky. Both pilots were declared missing after the accident; neither was seen alive again. Lieutenant Loban was eventually declared dead on 19 February 1945.
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart	LAST KNOWN RANK First Lieutenant (posthumous Captain)	STATUS OF REMAINS Not recovered.	MEMORIALS Manila American Cemetery

Biography:
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It happened on the night of January 29. Our division had been out on a late mission and we were coming home about an hour after dark. Glen and I made up the last section with me flying on his wing. We broke up the formation over the field, passing the lead back from one plane to the other.

Glen passed it to me and “peeled off.” I turned and passed the lead back to the division behind me and turned to follow Glen. You may remember Wayne Christian as he was one of our original squadron. He was following me. Glen had swung wide in the landing circle and Chris cut in short. Their planes collided and crashed into the bay.

We have been unable to get them out as there are no diving facilities here. They both went quickly and with no pain.

Glen had been in two dogfights with the Japs and I was with him on his second fight. He shot down two Jap planes the first fight and he and I shot one down together on the second fight.

Lt. Robert Bryson, VMO-251 and childhood friend of Loban’s,

The Daily Oklahoman 24 March 1943.

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