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Personal info

Full name
LEWIS, Howard E
Date of birth
1919
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Colorado
Hometown
Nampa, Canyon County, Idaho

Military service

Service number
O-734937
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
15 May 1943
Place of death
North Sea, near Borkum Isle, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Nathan E. Lewis (father)
Mary D. (Zimmer) Lewis (mother)
Nathan S. Lewis (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3173
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Spare Ball
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR:15581

More information

Howard E. Lewis graduated from Nampa High School in 1937 where he played in the school band.

The airplane exploded in mid-air after it was hit by a bomb, dropped by another B-17 in the group. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.351st.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Idaho Division of Veteran Services