One of Mabel’s Own

Eighty-one years after the crash of a B-24D in North Africa during WWII, the mystery of what happened on that tragic day, September 4, 1943, remains unsolved. Aboard that plane was one of Mabel’s own boys, Darol Milton Sherburne.

Staff Sergeant Darol M. Sherburne was killed on September 4, 1943, at Craw Field, Port Lyautey, Morocco, North Africa. Immediately after take-off, the pilot radioed in to make an emergency landing. After being cleared for landing, the plane crashed to the ground, catching fire, and killing all 10 men on board.

Sherburne was buried with full military honors at the United States Military and Naval Cemetery in Casablanca, Morocco. The Mabel Methodist Church held a service in remembrance. Later his body was returned to Mabel for burial at the Mabel Cemetery.

Sherburne was 27 years old when he lost his life in WWII after serving almost two years.

The usual pilot, 1st Lt. James H. Darden who was grounded on that day expressed his sympathy to Sherburne’s family, “He was one of the finest boys I’ve ever had the privilege of flying with. He was one of the best in his department. I was so very proud of him and my crew… I said goodbye to him at the cemetery where they were laid away to rest…(and) cried…”

Staff Sergeant Darol Milton Sherburne served in the Army Air Force and was trained as a radio and radar operator at Scott Field, Ill., receiving the only excellent rating awarded in his class. Sherburne had the option of staying in the U.S. as an instructor or serving overseas. 

Sherburne received the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, among others.

Thanks to his family and his hometown, Staff Sergeant Darol Milton Sherburne, Army Serial #37109067, will never be forgotten. At the Mabel City Council’s August 9, 2023, meeting the council unanimously proclaimed September 4 Darol M. Sherburne Day.

Sherburne was born on March 15, 1916, in Riceford, Minn.,, to Carrie (Mytten) and Merton Raymond Sherburne. They had five children – Nola, Alma, Helen, Gertrude, and Darol. In 1918, his mother Carrie died when he was just 23 months old. Several years later his father married Fannie Gorham who had two children from a previous marriage, Francis and Myrtle. Then came along half-siblings, Neva, Marvin, Zelda, Priscilla and Milton.

He is remembered by his sister’s childhood friend, 101-year-old Irma Johnson, who fondly recalls him as a nice brother, a nice son, and a nice guy. He always had a book and was very studious. She remembers that he had his own room, and it was full of books. He was very gentle and did not seem to have a temper. For example, when all the kids would come over and play spoons, which can get very loud, he would quietly get up and head to the backyard to read. He did not yell at the girls.   

He was well-liked and answered to the nickname “Bub.”

Sherburne was the salutatorian of the Mabel High School class of 1935. He was a member and an active Junior Leader of the Mabel Boosters 4-H club. After high school, he attended the Wisconsin Business University (WBU) in La Crosse, Wis. He enjoyed hunting deer in northern Minnesota with his friend James Amdahl. When he registered for the draft in October 1940, he was working for C.M. White – Clifton, the local banker. Before that, he worked as a bookkeeper in the transportation industry in Mabel. He dreamed of returning to Mabel to open a bank.

Historian Gretchen Dahlen shared with the family, Sherburne was one of 25 selected in the October 1941 draft call for Fillmore County. He enlisted on October 6, 1941, at Fort Des Moines. 

At the remembrance on September 4, 2023, family members shared stories with the crowd. “A serious guy who always had a book in his hand.” “He liked to ride his 1930 Harley fast.”  Sherburne was conservative and saved his money. His fellow comrades would pay him $5 to do their KP. Sherburne’s mom did not want her son to serve in the war, so he joined the reserves in Winona. He hit a deer coming home for a visit, so his mother took it upon herself to contact the military and said that was too far, so he came home. His mom “took on the Army and won.”

To learn more about Darol, his crew, and the crash that took their lives, check out a copy of the book “Across the Dark Waters: Life and Death in the U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Antisubmarine Squadron” by James Pontolillo at your local library. A letter from Pontolillo was shared with the family on September 4, “I feel lucky to have been able to play a part in ensuring that Darol’s sacrifices and those of his comrades are not forgotten.”