Hero's fate uncovered in the Netherlands
—Courtesy photo Donald Paul Breeden, pictured here, went missing in 1943. A Dutch researcher recently made contact with his family and found a photo and possible closure to the hero’s fate. Breeden graduated from high school in the Worley School District and his marriage record was found in Coeur d’Alene.
On Oct. 14, 1943, U.S. Army Air Force pilot Donald Paul Breeden went missing in action.
He was on his way to attack a German ball bearings factory when his B-17 was shot down over the town of Eygelshoven in the Netherlands.
Breeden had gone to school in the Worley School District and his marriage information was found in Coeur d'Alene, but for more than 70 years, no one had a clue about what happened to this brave pilot.
Until now.
Wim Slangen, an Eygelshoven native, helped erect a monument in Shinveld (near Eygelshoven) and began researching the crash of the B-17. He had known about it since he was young because his great-uncle was almost hit by the wing of the plane as it fell.
Slangen said as he began his research, he was intrigued that Breeden was the only one still missing.
"It was said that six crewmembers had used their parachutes. Five were arrested within minutes after hitting the ground, but he went missing," Slangen told The Press via email. "Meantime in our local paper there was an article on 'The faces of Margraten.' We had been at the Margraten U.S. Cemetery more often ever since I was a small boy."
On May 4 — the "Dutch Memorial Day," he explained — he and his wife went to Margraten and saw Breeden's name on the Wall of the Missing.
There was no photo next to Breeden's name.
"I made a silent vow to go after his photo," Slangen said. "A little work compared to his sacrifice."
Slangen said he started with information from the "Fields of Honor" website and found Breeden's hometown was Worley and he was born in Washington. Slangen contacted The Press and the Idaho Genealogical Society about an obituary. This led him to find Breeden's widow, Margarette Breeden-Talbot, their daughter, Donna Reichelsdorf, and granddaughter Beth Long, all of San Francisco. Slangen was able to make contact with the family and secure a photo of the long-lost hero.
"I was very, very happy when I received Donald's photo," Slangen said. "It felt like a birthday present."
In further research, Slangen did find mention of Breeden in George C. Kuhl's book, "Wrong Place, Wrong Time: The 305th Bomb Group & The 2nd Schweinfurt Raid." Kuhl wrote that Breeden was never found, but in 1948 and '49 an investigation was conducted.
Learn more about Slangen's research on Breeden: www.jachthoornblazers.nl/JHB/Wim-Slangen-Donald-P-Breeden.html