Lester Eugene Manahan was born to Benton and Lillie Manahan in Arrowsmith, Illinois, August 30, 1919. Eugene graduated from Saybrook High School in 1938, enlisted in 1940, and graduated from Army Air Corps training in May 1942.
On December 5 of that year the cargo plane he co-piloted crashed in Greenland. The crew— Manahan and four others—were never found. They radioed base three times after the crash informing them they were all alive, but batteries ran out November 12. After 30 days the search was abandoned because the plane was reported to have only two days’ rations and no heat. Two years later the Army reported that it was the only aircraft lost in Greenland and still unaccounted for.
This collection contains newspaper clippings, a diploma, certificates, a yearbook, and other documents belonging to Eugene Manahan.