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Personal info

Full name
HOFFMAN, Adrian Wendell
Date of birth
18 February 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
North Carolina
Hometown
Alamance County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
34608821
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
853rd Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 September 1944
Place of death
Ostoe, near Soest, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
D 10 32

Immediate family

Members
Arthur G. Hoffman (father)
Evelena F. Hoffman (mother)
Violet G. Hoffman (sister)
Howard W. Hoffman (brother)
Thomas E. Hoffman (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-10500
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 9426

More information

S/Sgt Adrian W. Hoffman hraduated from Elon High School and was a sophomore at Elon College when he enlisted at Camp Croft, South Carolina on 9 March 1943.

Taken at interrogation:
"A/C no 500-P from 491st BG had flak burst about 20 feet in front it. About 3 minutes after the burst a gas cloud was seen to come from no. 1 and no. 2 engines. Burst into flames and the wing snapped between the engines. A/C then went into a flat sprial and a series of explosions occurred. It then crashed on a railroad at 5137N-0815E. 1 To 3 chutes were seen at 1432 hours."

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, Nara - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, Elon Alumni News - April 1943/April 1952, www.newspapers.com - The Burlington Daily Times-News

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Elon Alumni News