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Carl George Tafel, Jr. Tafel, Jr

Louisville, KY

Carl George Tafel, Jr
P-51D Mustang Fighter Pilot

(cont)
The news that Carl was missing in action did not arrive at the Tafel home until January 14, 1945. His makeshift gravesite, created by a German policeman who found his downed plane, was located in August by his brother-in-law, Addison Dimmitt. The Army finally changed Carl’s status from MIA to KIA on July 14, a few months after V-E Day. Carl’s remains were later moved to a military cemetery in Luxemburg. In 1948, Carl’s family was finally able to bring him home for burial in Louisville’s Cave Hill cemetery.
In 1946, a portrait of Carl was included in an exhibition at the Speed Museum honoring those “young Louisvillans, young men of great promise who gave their lives in World War II.” In 1999, a plaque honoring Carl was placed at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Memorial Garden outside Savannah, Georgia.



Click here to submit a story

Which one will it be

Read the stories submitted by our visitors below. One of them will be selected at random in January 2010 and given a place of honor in the exhibit.

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Edward Ehalt

Part Two... Wounded, and in shock, Ed was walking around on deck until man named Yellich made him sit down and sprinkle... read more

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Charles Steier

In early 1942, I took a cruise ship (named SeaCat) from San Fransico to Brisbane, Australia before going to New Guinea. T... read more

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Anne Laing

I was working on an LST as an inventory clerk in Evansville, IN. When I was old enough, I went to the navy rucuiting offi... read more

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Herman Barnett

Herman Barnett was born in Danville, KY on 11 January 1921 where his spent his childhood. Herman was inducted into the Arm... read more

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F.B. Maze

Part One... I was born and grew up in the West End of Louisville. Turning 18 in 1941, I worked at a dental lab making ... read more