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Personal info

Full name
COWARD, Huey Raye
Date of birth
1 January 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Hometown
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
O-711953
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
38th Fighter Squadron,
55th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 November 1944
Place of death
Emlichheim, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 13 23

Immediate family

Members
Melvin R. Coward (father)
Annie Coward (mother)
Kenneth W. Coward (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-15022
Data
Type: P-51D
Nickname: Oh Murder
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 10540

More information

2nd Lt Dudley M. Amoss reported: "I was flying #4 position in Yellow flight on Lt Coward's wing at about 23,000 feet, on an escort mission, on 26 November 1944, when I noticed Lt Coward's plane start slipping out of formation. I stayed with him and called him on the radio to see if he was OK, but received no answer. He swung out in a gentle diving turn to the right. I kept calling both him and the squadron leader. He spiralled down to about 15,000 feet, then pulled up, did a snap-roll, and dived vertically into the deck. I followed him down to the deck, and his plane crashed and exploded. I searched the area, but was unable to find a parachute, and apparently he did not bail out."

German J2202 report stated that the crash was caused by shooting (sic), (presumably downed by a fighter). He was buried in the prisoner cemetery of Lingen, Germany.

1st Lt Coward's ship's manoeuvres indicated the possibility of him suffering from anoxia.

Source of information: Michel Beckers/Russ Abbey-55th Fighter Group Association, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Michel Beckers/Russ Abbey-55th Fighter Group Association, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-A, Moore field, Mission, Texas