Eleventh Generation

973. Ira Allen COMSTOCK was born on 13 December 1924 in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas.^37,273 He served in the military in 1944 in World War II (Air Corps). He died on 13 July 2021 at the age of 96 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Always called Ikey or Ike by the family, Ira was named for his uncle Ira V. Comstock and his maternal grandmother's maiden name.

The child-size handmade wooden rocker that I now have and used as a child, was made for Ike. I also have a square tin box that I kept old coins in as a child. He told me that he used to keep his marbles in that tin box, and sit in the chair with the marbles, and rock himself to sleep.

Found among JoEllen's keepsakes was her invitation to Ike's graduation from Pilot School:
Army Air Force
Pilot School
Advanced-Twin Engine
Mather Field
Announces the Graduation of
Class 44-H
on Friday the eighth of September
Nineteen hundred and forty-four
Mather Field, Calif.
His card read: Ira A. Comstock; Lieutenant, Air Corps, Army of the United States

Ike claimed to have been sort of an "ace" during the last months of World War II while he was a pilot in the European theatre. He damaged three U.S. aircraft; one accident occurred on landing - an engine in his P-51 quit and he belly landed in a pasture, another when an engine blew up and caught fire on take-off in his P-38 - a known problem with this aircraft for which eventuality his instructor had made him practice, a third when the tail clipped a high power line while flying under it.
At some point, part of his pilot's training was in Oklahoma and he used to buzz the house on College Avenue where JoEllen & Kay lived with Ike & JoEllen's parents. Nora and Kay would run into the yard - Nora flapping her apron and Kay waving a dish towel, hoping Ike could see us. He usually buzzed once as a warning, then flew back over ....very low and loud.

One of Ike's buddies during the War had left a bride at home and needed only one more mission to be eligible to go back to the States. Ike was not feeling well, and let the buddy take his mission. Unfortunately he flew into the side of a mountain obscured by cloud and did not return. Ike had promised to take care of his wife if anything "happened". As soon as Ike returned after the War, he went to see that wife ...fell in love with her and married her.

Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, AR; Saturday, 26 May 1945
Lt. Ira A. Comstock, 20, Fayetteville, and his brother, Lt. Kenney M. Comstock, sons of Mr. & Mrs. Kenney Comstock, 428 North College, recently had a three-day visit in London. Lt. Ira Comstock had completed his first photo reconnaissance mission over German territory, and Lt. Kenney Comstock had been in France for some time. Another brother, T/5 Graydon Comstock, is in France, and a fourth brother, after nearly two years in service, has recently been discharged.
In making his photo mission, Lt. Ira Comstock "displayed courage, skill and coolness piloting his unarmed Lockheed P-38 Lightning photo plane and evading enemy interceptors and anti-aircraft fire" says an Army publication release. His squadron is one of the units which comprise Brig. Gen. Elliott Roosevelt's photo wing. These pilots have been flying deep into German territory where they took pictures of enemy troop and supply movements, communications, airfields, and defense and industrial installations.
Prior to entering the army, Lieutenant Comstock was a student at Fayetteville High School.

Ike came back from the War and went to college on the GI Bill, never taking any money from his parents.
1950 Census. Norman, Cleveland, OK, Hh 125
1106 E. Arkansas
Ira A. Comstock, 25, b. AR
Betty J., 25, b. OK, Teacher, English, Noble Public School

Northwest Arkansas Times, 8 Jun 1951
"Springdale"
Mr. and Mrs. Joe McKim and daughter, Kay, attended commencement at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Monday night of last week when Ira Comstock, brother of Mrs. McKim, was graduated with a BBA degree.

WWII Vet Says ‘Thanks Sheridan’
Steve Woody
Date Posted: July 16, 2013
http://thesheridanpress.com/?p=8946
We get letters. This one is special.
When Ira Comstock was 18, he and his fellow soldiers on a troop train stopped in Sheridan in 1943. He writes: “I would appreciate if you would pass along my long overdue thanks.”
To the people of Sheridan:
In August of 1943, I was on a troop train with approximately 200 other men being transferred from Shepherd Field in Texas to Missoula, Mont. We were in chair (train) cars with no air conditioning. There were no bathing facilities and our food was prepared in a boxcar with the doors open. We were extremely hot and sweaty and thirsty. The trip was supposed to take two days, but due to numerous delays, it took four days. It was the worst trip I have ever taken, except for one very bright spot.
After three days, our train pulled into the Sheridan Railway Station and to our delight, some 30 ladies were waiting to greet us on the station platform. They had set up tables with cold drinks and cookies and doughnuts. We were not allowed off the train, but their beautiful, smiling ladies handed the refreshments to us through the windows. The train was in the station for only about 30 minutes, but I still remember how great it was and how much it meant to me and the others.
That has now been 70 years ago, but I have always and will always have great memories of that 30 minutes and a warm spot in my heart for the city of Sheridan and especially for those beautiful angels.
Thanks to all of you, so very much.
Ira A. Comstock
Virginia Beach, Va.
Sheridan is in Madison Co, Montana.
From Wikipedia: The population was 642 at the 2010 census. Sheridan is known as the "heart of the Ruby Valley." Seven majestic mountain ranges surround this beautiful community. (Tobacco Root Range, Highlands Mountains, McCartney Mountain, The Pioneers, The Ruby Range, The Gravellies and the Snowcrest Range) The geology of the area includes some of the oldest rocks dating back over 2.7 billion years. The Ruby River winds through the valley just west of the town.

17 April 2014 Telephone interview with Ike. I had sent him a picture of my mother in a very lovely long white dress. He confirmed that it was for a high school prom - he thinks she went with her girlfriends, didn't have a date. Mother and her mother had made the dress - he remembered the discussions about the expensive material required and that his dad told them to go ahead with the dress and somehow he'd find the money to pay for it. Ike would have been about nine years old. He also told me that his dad, my granddad, received $32.50 per week business allowance for gas, food and hotel bills when he worked as a salesman for Berry Dry Goods Co. My granddad slept in his car and ate cheese and crackers to save as much of that money as possible for his family.
Ike also told me that he is going to be a "guest WW II pilot" at an open house weekend at the Aviation Museum there in Virginia Beach where he lives. It will be May 17 & 18 - he will be there to greet visitors and answer questions about his experiences.

In 1985, Ike and his wife were living at 609 Woodard Drive, Kirkwood, MO (Saint Louis). Another address in St. Louis was 416 S. Geyer Road - which had the same ZIP code. They later lived at 525 Wedge Drive, Virginia Beach, VA.

Ira Allen COMSTOCK and Betty Jane "Becky" BECKERDITE were married on 12 September 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.²⁷³ Betty Jane "Becky" BECKERDITE²⁵¹ was born on 18 December 1924 in Stroud, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. She died on 23 February 2013 at the age of 88 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Becky's parents were James D. & Chloe Jondahl Beckerdite. Her first husband's surname was Hughes.

The Social Security Death Index gives her birth as 1923, instead of 1924.