Hero’s fate uncovered — in Netherlands

On Oct. 14, 1943, U.S. Army Air Force pilot Donald Paul Breeden went missing in action.

He was on his way to attack a German ball bearings factory when his B-17 was shot down over the town of Eygelshoven in the Netherlands.

Breeden had gone to school in the Worley School District and his marriage information was found in Coeur d’Alene, but for more than 70 years, no one had a clue about what happened to this brave pilot.

Until now.

Wim Slangen, an Eygelshoven native, helped erect a monument in Shinveld (near Eygelshoven) and began researching the crash of the B-17. He had known about it since he was young because his great-uncle was almost hit by the wing of the plane as it fell.

Slangen said as he began his research, he was intrigued that Breeden was the only one still missing/Keith Cousins, Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.