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name
HOFFER, John Irwin - Date of
birth
24 January 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-676799 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
532nd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Senne-Bielefeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 18 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John C. Hoffer (father)
Hannah R. (Irwin) Hoffer (mother)
Dorothy Hoffer (sister)
Susannah J. Hoffer (sister)
Sara C. Hoffer (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31443 -
Data
Type: B17G
Nickname: Friday the 13th
Destination: Oschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the AGO aircraft factory
MACR: 2930
More information
2nd Lt John I. Hoffer attended Philipsburgh High School and Pennsylvania State University where he studied Industrial Engineering.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 2 April 1942.
The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters.
Four crew members were taken prisoner, six men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Senne, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Mr. Barry L. Spink, www.ancestry.com - Philipsburgh High School Yearbook 1937 / Pennsylvania State University Yearbook 1942, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-D, Bruce Field, Ballinger, Texas.