RECOGNIZES-SHIRL P. BEST

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0566

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HR0566 - 104th General Assembly

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HR0566
LRB104 16442 ECR 29834 r
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3
Representatives wish to recognize the memory of Flight Officer
4
Shirl P. Best, who was killed in action during World War II;
5
and

6

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best was born to Oscar Best and
7
Esther Brinker in Durand on April 13, 1921; he was one of six
8
children; he graduated from Durand Community High School; and

9

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best joined the United States Air
10
Force in October 1942; he attended pre-flight training school
11
in California and advanced navigation school in Texas; he
12
graduated as a flight officer and navigator, receiving silver
13
wings, on July 31, 1944; and

14

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best, prior to his graduation,
15
married Mary E. Van Etten in a military ceremony on July 1,
16
1944; and

17

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best was assigned to the Hell's
18
Angels and stationed at Molesworth Air Base in England, where
19
he flew as a navigator in a B-17G during 14 missions, one of
20
which included providing support at the Battle of the Bulge;
21
and

HR0566
- 2 -
LRB104 16442 ECR 29834 r
1

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best was on a mission to
2
Lutzkendorf, Germany when his plane was shot down by enemy
3
flak guns on February 9, 1945; before crashing, he and his crew
4
released their payload so it would not destroy the Village of
5
Eisenberg near their crash site, saving hundreds of lives; he
6
remained unidentified for nearly 40 years after the end of the
7
World War II; and

8

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best was finally identified in
9
October 1991 when a group located the crash site of his plane
10
and recovered the human remains of the crew members; his
11
identity was confirmed by a wedding band that contained the
12
initials of himself and his wife, Mary; and

13

WHEREAS, On September 7, 1995, Flight Officer Best and his
14
fellow crew members were commemorated when the residents of
15
Eisenberg erected a memorial as a token of gratitude to the
16
crew for sacrificing their lives in order to save the village;
17
and

18

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best's remains were brought back
19
to his hometown of Durand to be reburied with full military
20
honors on November 8, 2025; and

21

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best is survived by his

HR0566
- 3 -
LRB104 16442 ECR 29834 r
1
sister-in-law, Marge Best; his nieces and nephews, Deanna Best
2
Ralston, Virginia Best Bender, Jerry Hatton, Royce Hatton,
3
Harlan Hatton, Carrie Prell Thorne, Lettie Prell, Joyce
4
Deckard Anderson, Linda Deckard Darden, Dennis Deckard, Luanne
5
Deckard Siliaman, and Jean Best Cash; and their spouses,
6
children, and grandchildren; and

7

WHEREAS, Flight Officer Best is one of many soldiers from
8
World War II whose legacy should always be remembered, and it
9
is fitting that appreciation be shown for the return of his
10
remains and that his bravery be honored to encourage the
11
continued efforts to locate the remaining missing 3,711
12
Illinois military personnel who fought in World War II;
13
therefore, be it

14

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16
we recognize the memory of Flight Officer Shirl P. Best and his
17
acts of valor during World War II; and be it further

18

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19
presented to the family of Flight Officer Best as a symbol of
20
our esteem and respect.

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