When 1st Lt. Edwin Sibila of South Range went to Italy from North Africa, a hot bath was more a dream than a reality in his Liberator bombardment group.
The group was making plans for showers but luxuries come slow in a combat theater. So Sibila took things into his own hands. Remembering the Finnish steam bath so popular at home in northern Wisconsin, the Liberator pilot began to roughly construct one. The materials came from wherever Sibila or his crew could find it, but the building went up and soon members of his squadron were introduced to a new type of bathing. The result was an excellent steam bath that soon became the most popular institution in the group. Combat crews returning from a mission could relax after hours of high altitude flying.
A flag honoring this ingenious veteran will be flown at 9 a.m. Friday beside the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center. The flag will remain flying for a week in Sibila's memory as part of the Flags of Honor Program.
Sibila was born to Andrew and Laina Sibila in Superior on June 19, 1920, one of seven children. Andrew owned and operated a shoe repair shop in Superior. The family moved to Rockmont with the children in 1928. Sibila attended Rockmont grade school and graduated from Superior Central High School in 1938. He lettered in football and was active in dramatics. He enjoyed all sports, once coaching a youth football team. He also entertained in local vaudeville shows and auditioned for Major Bowes amateur hour in New York City as an impersonator. He moved out east and worked for Capitol Greyhound Bus Lines in Clarksburg, W.Va. He was promoted to division superintendent before entering the Army Air Force in September of 1942.
Sibila first won his wings as a glider pilot, later attended aviation cadet training schools and became a Liberator (B-24) bomber pilot. He completed 50 missions plus one volunteer mission flying from North Africa and Italy over heavily defended German targets.
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He was awarded the Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Mediterranean Ribbon with Bronze Star for the Italian Campaign and the Silver Star. He was recommended for the distinguished flying cross for bringing his heavily damaged plane back twice from distant targets. Upon returning to the states from the combat theater, Sibila instructed night flying to student bomber pilots.
In 1943, he was united in marriage with Pauline Larson of Superior. In the post-war days, they resided in South Range. They later moved to Milwaukee with their five children, where Sibila worked as a machinist.
He returned to Superior and in 1970 married Marian Stainbrook of Rochester, Minn. They then lived in the Frederic and St. Croix Falls area and Sibila worked for Nelson Mechanical in Minneapolis.
After many years, Sibila returned to flying and got his instructor and instrument ratings. In retirement he enjoyed flying and woodworking until poor health restrained him. Sibila passed away Oct. 6, 1997, at the age of 77. He was buried in Soldiers Memorial Park at Greenwood Cemetery with military rights.
The Flags of Honor program honors one deceased World War II veteran each week. A flag in the veteran's memory is lofted on a Friday by members of Post 435 and members of the Thomas F. Stein VFW Post 1091. It is lowered the following Friday. The ceremony takes place in front of the heritage center and is open to the public.
There is no cost for the program. A biography and picture of the veteran to be honored are required, but there are flags available at the center that can be flown for a veteran if the family is unable to send one.
For more information on the Flags of Honor program or to set up a time for your loved one's flag to fly, call the Bong Heritage Center at (715) 392-7151.
