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Personal info

Full name
HEBERT, Ira Wilbur
Date of birth
28 April 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Bell City, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Hometown
Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
18062110
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Unit
764th Bombardment Squadron,
461st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
25 July 1944
Place of death
Sankt Georgen an der Guse, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 42 17

Immediate family

Members
Ira Hebert (father)
Rebbecca Hebert (mother)
Richard W. Hebert (brother)
Martha Hebert (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95383
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Lazy Lady
Destination: Linz, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the Herman Göring tank factory
MACR: 7035

More information

S/Sgt Ira W. Hebert graduated from C.E. Byrd High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in Houston, Texas on 22 January 1942.

Statement from S/Sgt Edward D. Rose:
"Tail Gunner in lead ship of C flight, which consisted of five ships. Saw three ships from our flight destroyed by enemy fighters and flak. All 3 Ships destroyed from C flight were on fire and the ships flown by Lt Freeman and Lt Stitch blew up. Lt Mitchell’s ship (383) burned it hit the ground. There were at least five parachutes from that aircraft."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1920/1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Southwestern Louisiana Institute 1937