Mr. and Mrs. Burr S. Balser, of near Delphi, received word Sunday that their son, Second Lieut. Robert Allen Balser, 20, was killed in an airplane crash Friday night, July 7, at Syracuse, N. Y. No details were received, but the couple had received a message Saturday, stating that he and a group of flight officers were missing. The body has been returned to Delphi for funeral services. Lieut. Balser was born Dec. 21, 1923, in Carroll county and had lived all of his life in the Delphi vicinity. He was graduated from Delphi high school in 1942, attended Purdue University for one semester and entered the air corps in March, 1943. He received his commission on Feb. 8, 1944, at Blackland Field, Waco, Texas, and his officer’s transitional training at Dodge City, Kansas, on a B-26 Marauder bomber. Since May 4 of this year he has been stationed at Syracuse as an instructor. Survivors are the parents and a brother, Richard. The body arrived at Delphi Wednesday noon, being accompanied by one of Balser’s close friends, Lieut. Armstrong. It was taken to the parents home east of Delphi. Military funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at four o’clock at the Delphi Methodist church. The pastor, Rev. Schwein officiated. Burial was made in the Delphi Masonic cemetery.

Flora Hoosier Democrat July 15, 1944