Oscar Randolph Fladmark, Jr. (June 23, 1922 – July 27, 1955) was an American fighter pilot who flew 164 "no-injury" combat missions in World War II and the Korean War. Fladmark received the Distinguished Flying Cross during his military career. Just a few years after the Korean War, Major Fladmark, at 33 years of age, was in an automobile accident near Yuma, Arizona, on July 27, 1955, and died while being flown to the San Diego Naval Hospital. Early life and education Fladmark was born in Moe Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota, on June 23, 1922. His father, Oscar C. Fladmark, Sr. (1888–1965), came from Ålesund Norway, located on the western coastal fjord region of the country, and had moved to South Dakota in 1907. His mother, Pethryn Hanson (1896–1998), was also of Scandinavian descent and came from Hudson, South Dakota. He had one younger sibling, Lorentz W. Fladmark (1926–1993). Fladmark attended school in Canton, South Dakota. He was active in sports and became captain of his high school football team. Later, the family relocated to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attended Augustana College starting in fall 1940 but his education was interrupted by World War II when he was inducted into the Army Air Corps as an Aviator in June 1942. Military career World War II During World War II, Fladmark was selected as an aviation cadet and to undergo training with the United States Army Air Corp. He trained at various military bases in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Virginia. He was inducted in June 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his wings in the United States Army Air Corps in April 1943. He was transferred to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in England on August 20, 1943 for active duty with the 8th Air Force. Fladmark flew combat missions with the 359th Fighter Group, commanded by Colonel Avelin P. Tacon Jr. and based at the RAF station in East Wretham, England. Initially, the group flew the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, which was later replaced by the P-51 Mustang fighter. Fladmark flew combat mission strikes over Munich, Saarbrücken, Regensburg, Schweinfurt, Ebelsbach, Neuaubing, Hanover, Normandy, Méry-la-Bataille, Oise River, Sens. St. Ouen and Genevilliers near Paris. On November 2, 1944, the Associated Press wired a report on the Battle of Merseburg near Leipzig, Germany. Fladmark was flying with an armada of 1100 bombers and 900 fighters when