Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
HORNBERGER, Homer Texas - Date of
birth
31 October 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-674269 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
441st Squadron,
100th Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Altenbeken, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 9 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William P. Hornberger (father)
Mary (Thomas) Hornberger (mother)
Willis P. Hornberger (brother)
Thomas A. Hornberger (brother)
Paul Hornberger (brother)
Roland Hornberger (brother)
Dorothy M. (Johnson) Hornberger (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-15086 -
Data
Type: C-47A
Nickname: Hi
Destination: Hildesheim, Germany
Mission: Evacuation
MACR: 14726
More information
Homer Hornberger graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1939 and attended the University of Texas between 1939 and 1941.He was married to Dorothy Johnson on 30 November 1942 in Lubbock, Texas. At that time he was stationed at the South Plains Army Flying School.
"I was leading the flight of fourteen planes, on the resupply and evacuation mission, Wing no. 225, in which plane 43-15086, piloted by 1st Lt R.D. Burchfiel, participated. We flew on the disignated course and made our turn at Paderborn and headed for field R-16, located at Hildesheim.
After flying about five minutes we ran into bad weather and I ordered my flight to make a 180 degree left turn and go back to Paderborn. The formation, at that time was in trail. After we landed at Paderborn, the formation waited about two and one half hours but no message was received from the missing ship."
Statement from Harry C. Heal, O-462518, Captain, Air Corps, Pilot Flight Leader.
All five crew members and a passenger, Flight Nurse 1st Lt Christine A. Gasvoda, were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR,www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, Texas Birth Index, www.newspapers.com - Lubbock Morning Avalanche
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet, Arie-Jan van Hees.