HILL, Foster M, Second Lieutenant, 394th Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces, Service# 0-801696, Enl: South Carolina, MIA 23-Sept-1943, d.d. 14-Dec-1945
Awarded Air Medal, Purple Heart
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Hill and Gladys Lee Foster Hill, Columbia, South Carolina.
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Foster served as a Second Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-24D #42-40653, 394th Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Richland County, South Carolina prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 31, 1942 at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as employed as a Salesperson and also as being Married.

B-24D #42-40653 took off, with a crew of 9, from Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on a shipping strike mission over Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea.

They are believed to have been shot down by enemy ship anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea near Bougainville Island. The entire crew was lost.

Foster was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-801696

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-24D #42-40653:

Burt, John C ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, NY
Guerra, Louis V ~ T/Sgt, Radar Operator, FL
Hill, Foster M ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, SC
Martus, Frederick A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NY
McLeod, Robert L ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, SD
Ouimette, Joseph ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, MA
Owen, Thomas W ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, AL
Paradis, Edmond, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, ME
Peterson, Donald C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, MA

Bottom bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett
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Suggested edit:
The draft card had "Mac" and that he is born in 1918.. However, I did find his dad's 1942 obituary, which names the surviving son, Foster McClellan Hill. (The Columbia Record 30 Dec 1942, Wed · Page 10). I found the draft summary which shows 1919. The newspaper articles support the draft card. One article does say he was born in 1919. McClellan was also his father middle name.

Name: Foster M Hill
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Rank: Private
Birth Year: 1919
Nativity State or Country: Tennessee
Citizenship: Citizen
Residence: Richland, South Carolina
Education: 1 year of college
Civil Occupation: Salespersons
Enlistment Date: 31 Mar 1942
Enlistment Place: Fort Jackson Columbia, South Carolina
Service Number: 14074518

Foster Mae Hill in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Foster Mae Hill [Foster Mac Hill ]
Race: White
Age: 22
Birth Date: 23 May 1918
Birth Place: Herskell, Tennessee
Residence Place: Columbia, Richland, South Carolina, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Employer: None
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 158
Complexion: Light
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Next of Kin: Mrs Harry Mae Hill
(1401 Calhoun St.)

Home in 1940 Columbia, Richland, South Carolina
Map of Home in 1940 Columbia, Richland, South Carolina
Street Calhoun Street
House Number 1401
Inferred Residence in 1935 Columbia, Richland, South Carolina
Residence in 1935 Columbia
Sheet Number 2A
Attended School or College No
Highest Grade Completed College, 1st year
Weeks Worked in 1939 0
Income 0
Income Other Sources No
Household members
Name Age
Harry M Hill 56
Gladys Hill 45
Foster M Hill 20
Kindly provided by Contributor: 48847326