Captain Wallace M. Webb - Needham Cemetery - Needham, MA
Posted by: NorStar
N 42° 17.369 W 071° 14.664
19T E 314964 N 4684357
Wallace M. Webb was a veteran of WWII, and, by the image on the stone, flew in a B314.
Waymark Code: WMKNC4
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/05/2014
Views: 3
In Needham, within the Needham Cemetery, is this grave for Wallace M. Webb, who is a veteran of WWII.
The grave is on the northeast side of the cemetery, near an access road that winds up from Parish Road. There are also entrances into the cemetery from Nehoiden Street - you will have to drive through to the grave. It is set about halfway up a medium slope.
The grave is made of granite. There is a narrow vertical portion with no text, and a fatter portion that has text and the image. Behind are some bushes.
On the face of the fatter portion of the stone is an image of a plane and the text, "B314." Below that is the following text:
"Capt. Wallace M. Webb
March 18, 1920 - June 29, 2010."
The following text was found in several locations:
"WEBB, Wallace M. Of Gilroy,CA, June 29,2011. Born in 1920, Needham, MA., Wallace was a Captain for United Air Lines for 42 yrs. He is survived by his 4 sons and 2 daughters, Scott, Craig, Brian, Debbie, Owen and Wendy."
The Boeing-314 is an interesting aircraft. Wikipedia has a detailed article about this craft - far more than needed for this waymark. In summary, it was known as a flying boat that could land on water. The first flight of this airplane occurred in 1938 and were produced through 1941. Twelve were built - nine to PanAm, and 3 to British Oversees Airways Corp. Both airlines had their planes transferred to the military for service (Navy) in the war. Though they became obsolete when other aircraft were introduced, they were among the few aircraft at that time that could traverse either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans without stopping.
Source:
Boston Globe (and other places - Obituaries, Wallace M. Webb):
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visit link)
Wikipedia (Boeing-314):
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visit link)