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Personal info

Full name
HOLMES, Howard Wesley
Date of birth
20 December 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas
Hometown
Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
37222746
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
North Sea, off Terschelling Island, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Robert M. Holmes (father)
Pearl E. (Kinney) Holmes (mother)
Robert H. Holmes (brother)
Perry B. Holmes (brother)
Marguerite Holmes (sister)
Evelyn Holmes (sister)
Billy M. Holmes (brother)
Joanne Holmes (sister)
Raymond A. Holmes (brother)
Jack D. Holmes (brother)
Ruby E. Holmes (wife)
James W. Holmes jr (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97245
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Not available
Destination: Brunsbüttel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the canal lock
MACR: 5984

More information

S/Sgt Howard W. Holmes graduated from Andover High school in 1939 and was employed in the sheet metal department at Boeing Aircraft.

The airplane was hit by flak. It made radio contact with other airplanes at 1043 hours when it was approximately seven miles from Terschelling. Eight crew members were killed, one survived and was taken prisoner.

The body of S/Sgt Holmes washed ashore on 13 August 1944 at Callantsoog, The Netherlands.

S/Sgt Holmes is remembered at Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas with a memorial marker.

Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 5984, WWII Draft Card, 1920/1930 US Census

Photo source: André Koch, www.findagrave.com - Glen Owen, The Wichita Eagle - 29 September 1944, www.findagrave.com - Kyle