WATKINS, Bernard J. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Pfc. Richard R. Klinker, son of Mr. and Mrs. aul Klinker, 2437 North 18th Street a mechanic in the Air Force was an honor guard at memorial services held at Fassburg, Germany for 70 who lost their lives during the Berlin airlift. Two of 39 Americans killed during the airlift were from Lafayette, Navy Aviation Machinist Mate 3c Harry R. Crites and Sgt. Bernard J. Watkins. Pfc Klinker, who is stationed at Wiesbaden, Germany wrote that he felt particularly proud to hear the names of the two Lafayette men named on the memorial honor roll.  He wrote that the ceremony lasted three hours and was participated in by the USAF, Army and Navy units, the English Air Force and Army and the French AF.  Of the 70 killed, according to Klinker, 39 were Americans, 21 English and 10 French  Klinker has been in the AF since June 1948 and has been in Germany since July 16.

Frankfurt, Germany Jan 10 – The Air Force made public today the names of the six persons who died last Friday in the crash of an American C-54 near Burtonwood, England.  They include Sgt Bernard J. Watkins, 36 North 24th Street, Lafayette. The plane was en route from Frankfort to Burtonwood, a maintenance base for Berlin airlife planes. Cause of the crash is being investigated.  Sgt. Watkins is the son of Herman Watkins, a local auto mechanice. A veteran of WWII Sgt. Watkins worked in Lafayette for a time as an auto mechanic before reenlisting for service. A brother, Robert was killed in action during the war.  He was not married.

The body of Sgt. Bernard J. Watkins, 26 AAF of this city one of six persons killed Jan 7 in the crash of an American C-54 plane, in England will arrive here Friday at 11:40 a.m. over the Big Four railroad. City police and the American Legion will provide an escort to the Soller-Baker Funeral Home where services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. Rev Harry B. Parker of Dayton former state chaplain of the American Legion will officiate. Interment will be in Salem Cemetery near Concord with a Legion firing squad. The VFW will provide pallbearers. The father, Herman Watkins of this city survives.  

Sgt. Bernard J. Watkins, son of Herman Watkins, 3 North 24th Street whom the Air FOce announces as one of six persons killed Friday in the crash of an American C-54 near Burton Wood, England was the second of his family to die in a plane crash in England, was the second of his family to die in a plane crash in England. A brother, Staff Sgt. Robert Watkins also a member of the Air Force was killed in an airplane crash in Britain on March 14, 1944. The victim of Friday’s crash of the airlift plane, enroute from Berlin to the Burton Wood maintenance base was graduated from Jefferson HS in 1941. He joined the AF in 1942 and served until late in 1945. After his discharge he was in charge of a garage at Dayton.  In March last year, he reenlisted in the AF and went overseas in July, joining the airlift staff.  He was 26 years old. His father, a local auto mechanic is the only immediate survivor.  

Two streets in an American Air Force camp at Wiesbaden, Germany have been named after two Lafayette men who lost their lives flying the Berlin airlift. In Camp Lindsey, a street has been named Crites street in honor of Aviation Machinists, Mate 3/c Harry R. Crites, Jr. and “Watkins Street” was so named in honor of Sgt. Bernard J. Watkins. The streets have been officially christened and street signs have been posted.  30 other Americans who lost their lives flying the Berlin airlift also were honored.