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name
HOOVER, J Thomas - Date of
birth
1923 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
New Cumberland, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Lakeland, Polk County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14064441 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 October 1943 - Place of
death
Oerdingen near Sulingen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 15 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Wesley C. Hoover (father)
Catherine E. (Ryan) Hoover (mother)
Dorothy E. Hoover (sister)
Clara Hoover (sister)
Charles E. Hoover (brother)
Margaret T. Hoover (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7488 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Hellz-a-droppin
Destination: Vegesack, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft U-boat yards
MACR: 880
More information
T/Sgt J. Thomas Hoover volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Blanding, Florida on 15 December 1941.His father Wesley C. Hoover, was a retired Captain of the Army. His brother Charles E. Hoover was a member of a coast artillery unit and was admitted in a London hospital at the time of T/Sgt Hoover death.
The aircraft was shot down by Hptm Paul Szameitat in a Ju 88C-6 of NJG 3/5.
According to the surviving crew member reports, their aircraft was attacked by twin-engine enemy fighters at about 23,000 feet right after target in the vicinity of Belmanhorst, Germany.
T/Sgt Hoover, very badley wounded in the stomach and chest, fell from the bomb bay without a parachute. According to surviving crew member John Buschman he was most likely dead when he fell. He tried to get his parachute but he fell as he turned to help him.
The bodies of Sgt Hoover and Sgt Bernard were positively identified from their respective dog-tags.
Eight crew members survived and were taken prisoner, two were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Cathy Leonard (niece)