LT. SCOTT H. NEAL, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Neal
of Ranger, was reported missing in action in the
North American Theatre on July 22, 1942, and has
since been officially listed as killed in action.
He was serving as a bomber pilot when reported
missing and it is known that the bomber was
returning from a mission when last heard from.
Lt. Neal before going into service had received a
private pilot's at the Ranger Airport. He went
into the Air Corps in 1941 and received training
at Hemet, CA, Moffett Field, CA, and at Luke Field,
Phoenix, AZ, where he received his wings & commission
in Dec. of 1941. He had advanced training at Muroc,
CA and at Albuquerque, NM, before going to March
Field, CA, from which he was ordered to the North
Pacific.
He was one of Ranger's first casualties of the war
and was the first of the better than 500 employees
of the Interstate Theatres to be reported missing
in action. A large star in the center of the
Theatres Service Flag in Dallas honors this fine
young man.
Lt. Neal was born and reared in Ranger & graduated
form Ranger High School and from Ranger Junior
College. At the time he entered service he was
employed by the Arcadia Theater in Ranger.
In Dec. of 1942, he was married to Miss Maurice
Croom, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. H.C. Croom. His
sister was Dixie Neal Jones (RHS-1930).