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name
HOUCK, James H - Date of
birth
31 October 1920 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Rockford, Surry County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Forsyth County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-734691 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
532nd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
25 July 1943 - Place of
death
Neustädt Bay, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Claude A. Houck Sr. (father)
Lucy Hamlin (mother)
Mary E. Houck (sister)
Thomas H. Houck (brother)
Benjamin F. Houck (brother)
Claude A. Houck Jr. (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30013 -
Data
Type: B-17 F
Nickname: Lethal Lady
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the diesel engine works
MACR: 130
More information
2nd Lt James H. Houck volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United Stated as an aviation cadet in Jacksonville, Florida on 10 January 1942. He attended college for 2 years and was an actor before he joined the army.The primary target was the diesel engine works but due to cloud cover the Blohm & Voss Naval shipyard was bombed.
Report given by Lt Baltrusaitis, Pilot, and S/Sgt T.G. Murph, Tail Gunner, who's ship was flying left wing of Lt Owen's ship, while Lt Moore was flying Lt Owens's right wing in the formation:"Lt Moore's ship (42-30013) was hit by flak, just after passing over the target, Hamburg. Flak was believed to have knocked about a foot off of the left end of the left Airleron, knocked off part of the left horizonal stabilizer and the left wing tip was on fire. When last sighted, Lt Owen and Lt Moore's ships were going down together, straight ahead."
Six crew members were taken prisoner, 4 were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, Rootsweb, Missing Aircrew Report 130, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, A van Erp, University of Florida Yearbook 1942.