Former Football Star Bombs Nazi Factories

Lieutenant George G. Hedblom '37, former Varsity football star, was a member of the great air armada which bombed the German-occupied industrial town of Lille, in Northern France, it was reported in the Boston Herald recently. Hedblom, until recently a master and football coach at the St. George's School in Newport, R. I., was a back on the football teams of '34, '35 and '36.

A halfback his Sophomore year, he saw considerable action, and started over half the games that fall. With the advent of Dick Harlow and his spinning offense, Hedblom shifted to fullback. Of first-string caliber, he had the bad luck for the next two years of being substitute for the great Vernon Struck, the 'magnificent faker' and probably the best-known exponent of the deceptive Harlow offense. Nevertheless, although overshadowed by Struck, he managed to impress the coaches with his determined and spirited play, and remained second-string fullback for his Junior and Senior years.

He taught science at St. George's for a year, where he was especially remembered for his ability of instilling great spirit and fight into an otherwise mediocre football team. Enlisting in the Air Corps a year ago, Hedblom received his training at Oxnard, Cal., and was commissioned a lieutenant last May. He was sent to Great Britain as a pilot of a Flying Fortress this summer.

His mother, Mrs. Carl A. Hedblom, said she had last received word from her son in mid-September.