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Personal info

Full name
BALFANZ, Hugh Everett
Date of birth
31 August 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
Hometown
Abilene, Taylor County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38513080
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 October 1944
Place of death
unknown

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Walter R. Balfanz (father)
Myrtle E. (Chartrand) Balfanz (mother)
Edwin C. Balfanz (brother)
Robert L. Balfanz (brother)
Mary A. Balfanz (sister)

More information

S/Sgt Hugh E. Balfanz graduated from Abilene High School and was a clerk before he enlisted in Abilene, Texas on 14 April 1943.

On 28 July 1944, S/Sgt Balfanz was a crew member on B-24 #41-28933 that was shot down by flak in the vicinity of Raska in former Yugoslavia. Together with other crew members he managed to evade capture and returned to his unit on 2 September 1944. He was killed on the first mission follwing his return.

No records could be found about the mission and crash on 4 October 1944.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com – Gro Family Tree, www.findagrave.com – Paula J, www.newspapers.com – Abilene Reporter News Texas 19 October 1944
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Have Paws will travel / Paula J, www.ancestry.com – U.S. School Yearbooks Abilene High School Texas, www.newspapers.com – Abilene Reporter News Texas 1 September 1944, Men and Women in the Armed Forces from Taylor County, Texas