Son of Whalen and Vera (Hood) Herb.
Lt. John W. Herb of University Heights, OH, with P-51D CV-E 44-72260 "Mary Lou." Lt. Herb enlisted on 4 November 1942 in Cambridge, MA, and flew with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from 23 January 1945 thru 13 April 1945, when he was KIA.
13 April 1945 mission: Lt. Col. Baccus led an escort to Gustrow followed by strafing in northern Germany. The 368th had a big day as they hit Neumunster Airfield and claimed 15 kills; four apiece going to Capt. Denman, Lt. Barber, and Lt. Herb. On one pass, Lt. Herb tore the coolant scoop off his plane when he hit a tree. Northwest of Hamburg his engine quit, and while trying to belly-in, his P-51 hit a woods and exploded. He was flying "Mary Lou" on that last mission and his loss is reported in MACR 13905.
Lt. Herb is memorialized on the Wall of Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, but on February 19, 2015, he was officially accounted for and his remains returned to the United States. Lt. Herb will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on June 18, 2015.
Lt. John W. Herb of University Heights, OH, with P-51D CV-E 44-72260 "Mary Lou." Lt. Herb enlisted on 4 November 1942 in Cambridge, MA, and flew with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from 23 January 1945 thru 13 April 1945, when he was KIA.
13 April 1945 mission: Lt. Col. Baccus led an escort to Gustrow followed by strafing in northern Germany. The 368th had a big day as they hit Neumunster Airfield and claimed 15 kills; four apiece going to Capt. Denman, Lt. Barber, and Lt. Herb. On one pass, Lt. Herb tore the coolant scoop off his plane when he hit a tree. Northwest of Hamburg his engine quit, and while trying to belly-in, his P-51 hit a woods and exploded. He was flying "Mary Lou" on that last mission and his loss is reported in MACR 13905.
Lt. Herb is memorialized on the Wall of Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, but on February 19, 2015, he was officially accounted for and his remains returned to the United States. Lt. Herb will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on June 18, 2015.
Son of Whalen and Vera (Hood) Herb.
Lt. John W. Herb of University Heights, OH, with P-51D CV-E 44-72260 "Mary Lou." Lt. Herb enlisted on 4 November 1942 in Cambridge, MA, and flew with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from 23 January 1945 thru 13 April 1945, when he was KIA.
13 April 1945 mission: Lt. Col. Baccus led an escort to Gustrow followed by strafing in northern Germany. The 368th had a big day as they hit Neumunster Airfield and claimed 15 kills; four apiece going to Capt. Denman, Lt. Barber, and Lt. Herb. On one pass, Lt. Herb tore the coolant scoop off his plane when he hit a tree. Northwest of Hamburg his engine quit, and while trying to belly-in, his P-51 hit a woods and exploded. He was flying "Mary Lou" on that last mission and his loss is reported in MACR 13905.
Lt. Herb is memorialized on the Wall of Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, but on February 19, 2015, he was officially accounted for and his remains returned to the United States. Lt. Herb will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on June 18, 2015.
Lt. John W. Herb of University Heights, OH, with P-51D CV-E 44-72260 "Mary Lou." Lt. Herb enlisted on 4 November 1942 in Cambridge, MA, and flew with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from 23 January 1945 thru 13 April 1945, when he was KIA.
13 April 1945 mission: Lt. Col. Baccus led an escort to Gustrow followed by strafing in northern Germany. The 368th had a big day as they hit Neumunster Airfield and claimed 15 kills; four apiece going to Capt. Denman, Lt. Barber, and Lt. Herb. On one pass, Lt. Herb tore the coolant scoop off his plane when he hit a tree. Northwest of Hamburg his engine quit, and while trying to belly-in, his P-51 hit a woods and exploded. He was flying "Mary Lou" on that last mission and his loss is reported in MACR 13905.
Lt. Herb is memorialized on the Wall of Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, but on February 19, 2015, he was officially accounted for and his remains returned to the United States. Lt. Herb will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on June 18, 2015.
Gravesite Details
Lt Herb is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, but on February 19, 2015, he was officially accounted for and his remains returned to the United States.
