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On Memorial Day 

 

May 26, 2025

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The Springfield community will honor the life, service, and memory of its residents and our nation's service members whose lives were lost in service to our country.  On Memorial Day 2025, we will especially honor and remember Second Lieutenant Donald S. Weightman, United States Army Air Forces who was killed in action on February 10, 1944.

Although the focus of this year's remembrance is on 2nd Lt. Donald Weightman, we will honor all who gave their life for their country.  We continue to keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.​

The community's 2025 event will consist of one short remembrance ceremony at the WWII memorial outside St. Francis of Assisi Church, followed by a short parade to the the Old Central School on Saxer Ave and then the primary remembrance outside the Old Central School. Due to construction, the primary remembrance will not be at the Township Building. 

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  • 9:30 a.m.: Ceremony at the St. Francis of Assisi Church WWII memorial, corner of Saxer Ave and Johnston Rd

  • 10:00 a.m.: Primary remembrance outside the Old Central School, Saxer Ave

SECOND LIEUTENANT

DONALD S. WEIGHTMAN

U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES

KILLED IN ACTION

 FEBRUARY 10, 1944

2nd Lt. Donald S. Weightman graduated from Springfield High School, Springfield (Delaware County), Pennsylvania in 1937. He was the son of Franklin Atwood (Frank) Weightman and Mary Lillian Sharp Weightman of 300 Ballymore Road. At Springfield High School, he was the class president and played basketball and football, acted in the junior and senior plays, sang in the Glee Club, and wrote for Scrivner yearbook. After graduation, Don attended Urinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Among the first six Springfield students to enlist in the time leading up to WWII, Don served initially in the National Guard. His National Guard unit was called to active duty January 13, 1941.  Later, in 1943, he earned his pilot wings and was commissioned in the Army Air Forces.
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Photo: Donald Weightman, Springfield High School Class of 1937

During this time, he married Norma Case, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, together they had a son, Franklin Case Weightman. In December 1943, 2nd Lt. Weightman was sent to England where he was assigned as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot assigned to the 96th Bomber Group, 339th Bomber Squadron, Heavy.

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On February 10, 1944 serving as the co-pilot of B-17G #42-31566, he and nine other crew members departed from Royal Air Force Snetterton Heath during a mission to Brunswick, Germany. During the mission, the aircraft went down for unknown reasons. The crew was never recovered and the aircraft was presumed to have gone down in the North Sea. Initially listed as Missing in Action, 2nd Lt. Weightman was presumed dead on February 11, 1945.  He and the crew of B-17G #42-31566 are memorialized at Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Among other decorations, 2nd Lt. Weightman earned the Air Medal and was awarded the Purple Heart.​​​
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The following nine airmen were 2nd Lt. Donald Weightman's fellow crewmembers who also perished on that mission:
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S/Sgt Marlin J. Bruckman - Left Waist Gunner
S/Sgt Earl T. Case - Right Waist Gunner
2nd Lt. Charles J. Flynn Jr - Navigator
S/Sgt Russell E. Nelson - Ball Turret Gunner
T/Sgt Edgar N. Orbell - Radio Operator
T/Sgt Harry E. Rankin Jr - Top Turret Gunner
1st Lt. Harold S. Thompson - Pilot
2nd Lt. George J. Wachal - Bombardier
S/Sgt Dean I. Whitten - Tail Gunner
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Sources: 
 
Donald S. Weightman
1lt donald s weightman hero banner
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