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Personal info

Full name
HUMMEL, Harry Frederick
Date of birth
11 May 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-760852
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
332nd Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 November 1944
Place of death
North Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Lewis A. Hummel (father)
Edna M. (Stitzinger) Hummel (mother)
Louis G. Hummel (sister)
Harold E. Hummel (brother)
Carolyn J. Hummel (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38165
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: St. Christopher Kids
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Rheunania Ossag oil refinery
MACR: 10305

More information

1st Lt Harry F. Hummel enlisted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 10 June 1942 a few days after graduation from Rocky Grove High School where he was the manager of the basketball team.

He completed his primary and basic training in King City, California and Chico Army Flying School, California. He graduated from the Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School in Yuma, Arizona and was commissioned in November 1943 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 5 December 1943.

Two engines were hit and damaged by flak. According to the last word received from the crew, they were heading towards Holland and had decided to abandon the plane in the North Sea and await an Air Rescue. No further communication was received.

The entire crew of nine men was killed.

Official Statement of Thomas C.S. Houser, 2nd Lt, Air Corps:
"This aircraft was last seen with two engines out on 4 November 1944 at 53˚52'N - 07˚00'E at 1322 hours. At 1342 hours it was reported that he was calling for Air Sea Resque at 53˚48'N - 05˚40'E. Reports over VHF stated that he would try to make Holland but then decided to ditch. No further confirmed reports were received from this aircraft and therefore it is not known whether it ditched or made a landing safely."

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.usaafdata.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.newspapers.com - The News-Herald 9 December 1943, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Ken Bacher (nephew), Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 43-K Chico AAF California