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name
WATKINS, Howard Denman Jr - Date of
birth
1 August 1919 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia -
Hometown
DeKalb County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-433617 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
577th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 December 1944 - Place of
death
300 meters east of Bruttig, near Clotten/Mosel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 9 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Howard D. Watkins (father)
Margaret (Simonton) Watkins (mother)
Margaret T. Watkins (sister)
Edith G. (Bohn) Watkins (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50785 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Bingen, Germany
MACR: 11139
More information
Capt Howard D. Watkins, Jr graduated from North Fulton High School in 1936. He attended Georgia School of Technology.He volunteered for the Regular Army Air Corps on 31 May 1941 at Fort McPherson, Georgia.
The sole account of this tragedy made by Sgt Charles L. Williams indicated their plane had become separated from the remainder of the squadron's bomber formation in the target area due to the dense clouds and enemy fighter attacks at the same time. The ship's interphone communications were shot out. And the aircraft was shot up very badly at this time. Not hearing any order or seeing anyone else bail out, Sgt Williams then abandoned the plane, and was captured on landing.
Capt Watkins was buried by the Germans in the village cemetery in Bruttig, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards / 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Laura Phillips, North Fulton High School 1936, The Atlanta Constitution - 11 January 1942 / The Atlanta Constitution - 11 July 1942