Elmore Cave Jr. was born on January 2, 1916, in Missouri. He was the son of Florine Brown Cave. Before entering military service, Cave studied at Washington University and later continued his education in Philadelphia, where he also worked in the art department of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. He enlisted in the military on February 7, 1943. He served in the 787th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-24H #42-95361 nicknamed ''Glad Ta See Ya'' during World War II.

On September 16, 1944, the “Glad Ta See Ya,” was destroyed in a mid-air collision over Norfolk, England, while taking part in a formation practice mission with the 466th Bomb Group. The flight was a training exercise rather than a combat operation, with several B-24s practicing formation flying and simulated bombing maneuvers near RAF Bodney. After completing a simulated bombing run, the formation began turning toward the rally point. During the maneuver, “Glad Ta See Ya” made its turn too tightly and came up beneath the formation’s lead aircraft, B-24J 42-51331. The pilot of 42-95361 attempted to avoid the lead bomber by diving away, but the aircraft became caught in its propeller wash. As the two Liberators converged, their rear sections collided.

The impact caused severe damage to both aircraft and left them uncontrollable. “Glad Ta See Ya” went down following the collision, while 42-51331 broke apart in the air. Despite the severity of the accident, three men aboard “Glad Ta See Ya” managed to escape and parachute to safety, while the remaining men aboard were killed. The loss of 42-51331 was even more severe, with 1st Lt. Stuart M. Peace Jr. becoming the only man from that aircraft to escape by parachute. Altogether, four airmen survived the collision, three from “Glad Ta See Ya” and one from 42-51331.

2Lt Cave is now buried in the Valhalla Cemetery, Midland Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, 453rd.blogspot.com