Missing information?
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Submit- Full
name
HOFFER, Richard G - Date of
birth
4 March 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Campbell County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16082204 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Turret Gunner -
Unit
729th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
20 April 1944 - Place of
death
English Channel near Calais, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
George W. Hoffer (father)
Emma A. (Gastinger) Hoffer (mother)
Norman M. Hoffer (brother)
Ralph Hoffer (brother)
Paul W. Hoffer (brother)
Marjorie E. Hoffer (sister)
George H. Hoffer (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37956 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Hard Way
Mission: Bombing of V-1 sites
MACR: 4179
More information
Several bomber groups were assigned to attack different V-1 sites. It is not clear what the destination of this group was.Following statement obtained by S-2 Section, 452nd BG, at interrogation after mission:
Aircraft 42-37956, with #2 and #3 engines afire from flak, lost altitude enroute home and did a 180 degree turn back towards the French coast at approximately 5110N-0153E. While in the turn ten chutes were seen to have come out. The aircraft exploded after all the chutes were out at about 18,000 feet. Distress signal to Air/Sea Rescue was made, as a result of which six of the crew were picked up by friendly Air/Sea Rescue activity. No further information concerning the four missing men is known.
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Fran Hoffer (daughter)