Howard, who resided in St. George's, Delaware, served as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator on B-17E (#41-2428), 42nd Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

His B-17 took off from Espiritu Santo on a mission over the northern Solomon Islands. They were reported to have crashed in the sea off Choiseul Island.

Howard was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He had served in the Air Corps for three years at the time of his death and was decorated with a "Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster", Distinquished Flying Cross, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart.

Service # 6978501

His brother, Tech 5 Harold W. Krantz, was also "Killed In Action" during the war.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17E (#41-2428):

Caviness, Sanford S ~ Corp, MO
Harp, James R ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, OK
Krantz, Howard L ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, DE
Lewis, Thornton H ~ 1st Lt, CA
Majeski, Henry ~ Pfc, PA
Miller, Elwood E ~ T/Sgt, PA
Noble, Charles M ~ T/Sgt, MD
Stephanik, Walter E ~ Corp, PA
Thomas, Omar D ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, WV

Note: The Pilot & Co-Pilot were members of the 5th Bomber Group. The crew was assigned to the 42nd BS, 11th BG.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Howard, who resided in St. George's, Delaware, served as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator on B-17E (#41-2428), 42nd Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

His B-17 took off from Espiritu Santo on a mission over the northern Solomon Islands. They were reported to have crashed in the sea off Choiseul Island.

Howard was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He had served in the Air Corps for three years at the time of his death and was decorated with a "Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster", Distinquished Flying Cross, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart.

Service # 6978501

His brother, Tech 5 Harold W. Krantz, was also "Killed In Action" during the war.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17E (#41-2428):

Caviness, Sanford S ~ Corp, MO
Harp, James R ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, OK
Krantz, Howard L ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, DE
Lewis, Thornton H ~ 1st Lt, CA
Majeski, Henry ~ Pfc, PA
Miller, Elwood E ~ T/Sgt, PA
Noble, Charles M ~ T/Sgt, MD
Stephanik, Walter E ~ Corp, PA
Thomas, Omar D ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, WV

Note: The Pilot & Co-Pilot were members of the 5th Bomber Group. The crew was assigned to the 42nd BS, 11th BG.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~