2nd Lt. Vern M. Rhing
United States Army Air Corps (1942-1943)

Vern Milton Rhing was born on January 22, 1921 to Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Rhing of 920 Norwich Avenue. He had two brothers, William and Gordon, and two sisters, Blanche and Clara. A graduate of South Hills High School, Vern was married to Helen Marie Cross of 508 Berkshire Avenue and the couple had one son, Vern Jr. He was employed as a private tinsmith, coppersmith, and sheet metal worker.

Three months after America's entry into World War II, on March 28, 1942, Vern enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training, he joined the Aviation Air Corps and, on August 22, left to train as an Air Officer. He received his wings in Yuma, Arizona on May 20, 1943.

Lt. Vern M. Rhing was assigned as a fighter pilot in the 55th Pursuit Squadron, the Fighting Fifty-Fifth, which was based at Portland Army Air Base in Oregon. The unit was originally a West Coast Intercepter group that was, at the time of Lt. Rhing's arrival, training for deployment, in September, to England as part of the U.S. 8th Air Force.

On August 13, 1943, during a training mission flying the P-38H Lighting, Lt. Vern M. Rhing's aircraft collided in mid-air with another flown by Lt. Alexander Johnston. The two pilots both died when their planes crashed.

Word of the air accident reached the Rhing family the following day. The Pittsburgh Press published a short notice for three days in a row, August 15-17. Lt. Vern Rhing was laid out at Beinhauer Funeral Home, August 20, and buried in the Mount Lebanon Cemetery.

* Written by Clint Burton: April 15, 2018 *

The Brookline War Memorial

Listed below are many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
General George S. Patton
 

World War I (1917-1919)

The World War I Memorial - Washington D.C.

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World War II (1941-1945)

The World War II Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Korean War (1950-1953)

Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Vietnam War (1965-1973)

Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.

The Brookline Monument - The Cannon

<Brookline War Memorial> <> <Brookline History>