On January 16, 1942, Carole Lombard, accompanied by her mother, and 20 other people from California, presided over a war bond rally in Indianapolis. Her last words in her home state of Indiana, just before boarding TWA Flight #3 for the return to Hollywood were, "Before I say goodbye to you all - come on - join me in a big cheer- V for victory!"
A little while later, the plane went down in the mountains of Nevada, killing all 22 passengers.
Carole was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Franklin Roosevelt as the first woman killed in the line of duty in WWII.
I always get uncomfortable reading about Lombard's last speech and the way she died. At least she got to have her mother with her to the end. Poor Gable.
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