Baseball in Wartime - George Chandler

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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

George Chandler

Date and Place of Birth: 1918 Dallas, Texas
Date and Place of Death: September 28, 1942 Plain Dealing, Louisiana
Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Infield
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Military Unit: USAAF
Area Served: United States

George W Chandler Jr was born in Greenville, Texas in 1919. He grew up in the Oak Cliff area and attended Oak Cliff High School where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. Chandler was a hustling infielder and played with the Karlen Brothers and Greyhound teams in the local City League at Reverchon Park before signing a professional contract right out of high school.

Chandler played with the Refugio Oilers of the short-lived Texas Valley League in 1938 and batted .251 with 63 RBIs. In 1939 he was with the Greenville Lions and the Tallassee Indians of the Alabama-Florida League; the Lake Charles Skippers of the Evangeline League and the Midland Cowboys of the West Texas-New Mexico League. In 1940 he played with Midland and the Borger Gassers of the West Texas-New Mexico League before military service brought his pro career to halt in April 1941.

Chandler served with the United States Army Air Force and took basic flight training at Randolph Field, Texas. He received his wings on September 6, 1942 and was made a staff sergeant. Days later he was honor guest at a party held at the Plantation in Dallas.

Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana was Chandler's next assignment for training on twin-engined bombers. On Sunday, September 18, 1942 Staff Sergeant Chandler and three other crew members were aboard a Martin B-26 Marauder on a routine flight. At 2pm, the plane experienced serious problems. As it plunged to the ground one crew member parachuted to safety. Chandler, Second Lieutenant Basten and Second Lieutenant Kester were still on board when it crashed, exploded and burned at Plain Dealing, Louisiana.

On October 1, 1942 funeral services for George Chandler were held at the First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff. He is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.

Martin B-26 Marauder

George's brother, Tom, continued the baseball tradition in the Chandler family. He was the head coach of Texas A&M University for 26 years, teaching many players including Gaylord Perry, Doug Rau and Davey Johnson. The American Association of Baseball Coaches (AABC) awarded him the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award in January of 1982. He was also inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame as well as the AABC National Hall of Fame.

Thanks to George Chandler's sister, Grace Fair, and his nephews, Mike Fair and Chris Chandler, for help with this biography. Thanks also to Rachel Roberts at the Dallas Historical Society for help with this biography.

Added July 18, 2006. Updated June 19, 2008.

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