He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 4, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
Jack was "Killed In Action" when his B-17 was shot down on Mission 133 to Berlin, Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on June 12, 1951.
Service # 19127128
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Statement from 2nd Lt Mark Medick, Pilot of B-17 (#42-97202) about B-17 (#42-102613):
I was flying as pilot of aircraft #42-97202 which was in No. 3 position of the Lead Element of the High Squadron on a mission to Ludwigshaven, Germany on May 27, 1944. I first saw Lt Howard R. Evans apparently after he had been attacked by enemy fighters because the propeller of his no. 3 engine was feathered. I noticed a white vapor coming from his gas tanks and presumed that they had been hit in this attack in addition to the no. 3 engine. Then I saw him attacked by enemy fighters and a black vapor appeared which indicated an oil leak. After this attack he pulled out of formation and headed toward Switzerland under control. The Alps were plainly visible from where we were. I saw no parachutes nor did I hear anything from Lt Evans on VHF.
The aircraft crashed at Durlach near Karlsruhe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crew of B-17 (#42-102613):
Duffy, James J., 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, POW
Evans, Howard R., 1st Lt, Pilot, POW
Honsowetz, Jack W., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, California, KIA
Joiner, Glen E., S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, KIA
Koph, Donald G., S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, Iowa, KIA
Norton, Joseph P., 2nd Lt, Navigator, Illinois, KIA
Kovacs, Stephen, S/Sgt, Turret Gunner, New York, KIA
Peterson, Roger N., 1st Lt, Bombardier, POW
Pope, Ronald C., T/Sgt, Radio-Op, Maine, KIA
(Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett)
He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 4, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
Jack was "Killed In Action" when his B-17 was shot down on Mission 133 to Berlin, Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on June 12, 1951.
Service # 19127128
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement from 2nd Lt Mark Medick, Pilot of B-17 (#42-97202) about B-17 (#42-102613):
I was flying as pilot of aircraft #42-97202 which was in No. 3 position of the Lead Element of the High Squadron on a mission to Ludwigshaven, Germany on May 27, 1944. I first saw Lt Howard R. Evans apparently after he had been attacked by enemy fighters because the propeller of his no. 3 engine was feathered. I noticed a white vapor coming from his gas tanks and presumed that they had been hit in this attack in addition to the no. 3 engine. Then I saw him attacked by enemy fighters and a black vapor appeared which indicated an oil leak. After this attack he pulled out of formation and headed toward Switzerland under control. The Alps were plainly visible from where we were. I saw no parachutes nor did I hear anything from Lt Evans on VHF.
The aircraft crashed at Durlach near Karlsruhe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crew of B-17 (#42-102613):
Duffy, James J., 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, POW
Evans, Howard R., 1st Lt, Pilot, POW
Honsowetz, Jack W., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, California, KIA
Joiner, Glen E., S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, KIA
Koph, Donald G., S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, Iowa, KIA
Norton, Joseph P., 2nd Lt, Navigator, Illinois, KIA
Kovacs, Stephen, S/Sgt, Turret Gunner, New York, KIA
Peterson, Roger N., 1st Lt, Bombardier, POW
Pope, Ronald C., T/Sgt, Radio-Op, Maine, KIA
(Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett)
Inscription
SGT, 508 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California
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