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Submit- Full
name
HAGAN, Howard Charles - Date of
birth
13 February 1923 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32765675 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
324th Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Zeitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 8 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James H. Hagan (father)
Mary R. (McCarthy) Hagan (mother)
James T. Hagan (brother)
Joseph J. Hagan (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38742 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zeitz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 11044
More information
Sgt Howard C. Hagan was employed at the Western Electric Company.He was sent overseas in October 1944.
S/Sgt John C. Porter:
At about two minutes after bombs away, altitude 24,000 feet, I saw aircraft B-17G, 43-38742, after it had pulled out of formation in the high squadron. The aircraft was approximately 500 feet below and slightly to the rear of our ship. At this time the aircraft exploded, disintegrating completely. I saw no crew members leave the ship our parachutes open. As I did not see subject aircraft when it left the high squadron it is possible that some of the crew members may have bailed out prior to the time that I first noticed the aircraft flying below our position.
2nd Lt George A. Minich:
He didn’t bail out.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Grand-Failly, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Doherty McCarthy Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – JoAnn Hagans Harris, www.newspapers.com – Hudson Dispatch - 14 July 1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten