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name
HUGHES, Hayden T - Date of
birth
11 May 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Hereford, Weld County, Colorado -
Hometown
Washington, Washington County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-746352 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
708th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 April 1944 - Place of
death
Destedt, 7 miles east of Braunschweig, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 18 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John E. Hughes (father)
Edith M. (Jones) Hughes (mother)
John L. Hughes (brother)
Francis B. Hughes (brother)
Betty Hughes (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31144 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Rowdy Rebel
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4247
More information
1st Lt Hayden T. Hughes attended college and was an actor.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 4 April 1942.
The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters and knocked out of formation. It was then attacked again and last seen diving into cloud cover, still under control, but engine #2 was smoking. Three parachutes were observed.
One crew member survived and was wounded. He was taken prisoner and transported to the hospital in Braunschweig. Nine crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the village cemetery of Destedt on 30 April 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, Arthur Jansen, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arthur Jansen