Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1941.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943-1944. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
Early in the morning of March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying home to Chicago in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. He attempted to land at Ashburn Field, just two miles south of Chicago Midway, when the engine in his Corsair failed. Unknown to the Captain, the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair's main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung 100 yards away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.
He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Woods cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943-1944. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
Early in the morning of March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying home to Chicago in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. He attempted to land at Ashburn Field, just two miles south of Chicago Midway, when the engine in his Corsair failed. Unknown to the Captain, the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair's main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung 100 yards away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.
He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Woods cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.
Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1941.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943-1944. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
Early in the morning of March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying home to Chicago in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. He attempted to land at Ashburn Field, just two miles south of Chicago Midway, when the engine in his Corsair failed. Unknown to the Captain, the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair's main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung 100 yards away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.
He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Woods cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943-1944. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
Early in the morning of March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying home to Chicago in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. He attempted to land at Ashburn Field, just two miles south of Chicago Midway, when the engine in his Corsair failed. Unknown to the Captain, the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair's main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung 100 yards away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.
He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Woods cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.
