Glynn Richard Early

Staff Sergeant

United States Army Air Corps

Glynn Richard Early, the son of Bart and Grace Early, was born on 2 May 1923 in Davenport.

Glynn attended Saint Paul Catholic School and Saint Ambrose Academy.  He would later transfer and graduate from Davenport High School.  After graduation he worked at Rock Island Arsenal.

Glynn enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on 15 September 1942.  He graduated from the Harlingen Army Gunnery School in Harlingen, Texas in mid-November 1942 to eventually become a waist gunner on a B-24.  Upon graduation he was awarded his silver wings and was promoted to Sergeant. 

While on a mission in the South Pacific on 17 August 1943, his aircraft (the Twin Nifty’s) went down in the jungle near Papua, New Guinea.  Information about the Twin Nifty’s discovery on New Guinea can be found at http://www.b24bestweb.com/twinniftys2.htm.  Through out the years, Glynn’s family held out hope for his survival.  Seven years after his aircraft was lost, the remains of Glynn and the crew were repatriated and returned to the United States for burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri.

Glynn was survived by his parents and sister, Jeanne M. (Early) Davis.

Military services for the Twin Nifty's crew at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

(Photo courtesy Glynn Davis, Susan Taylor, and Bob Taylor)

Source of Information.

1.  Davenport Democrat and Times, date unknown.  Article provided by childhood friend, James Peavey (Saint Ambrose Academy, Class of 1942).

2.  National World War II Memorial veteran’s registry; http://www.wwiimemorial.com/.

3.  National Archives, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel for the State of Iowa.

4.  Twin Nifty’s web site: http://www.b24bestweb.com/twinniftys2.htm

5.  E-mail from Glynn's nephew, Glynn R. Davis on 12 June 2004. 

6.  Photo and documents provided by Glynn Davis, Susan Taylor, and Bob Taylor on 15 June 2004.

7.  Davenport Democrat and Times, 30 November 1942, page 11.

I Home I Assumption High School I Burlington High School I Jimmie Earl Howard I Links I Allen James Lynch I

I Quad Cities Korean War Veterans I Saint Ambrose Academy I Site Map I