Joseph H. Hudgins
Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy
Service # 0-298892 United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Missouri
Branch of Service: VPB - 137 USNR
Date of Loss: 05 April 1945 over Amoy Harbor, China
Status: Missing in Action
Officially Declared Dead: 06 April 1946
Medals: Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross & Victory
Son of Joseph Cephas Hudgins & Madeline Lee Moss.
Graduated from McKinley High School - Class of Jan 1940.
He enlisted 01 August 1942 from Missouri - Cadet V-5 USNR
Ensign Joseph H. Hudgins, USNR, received his designation as a Naval Aviator on 24 July 1943 at the Naval Air Training Center,
Joseph Howard Hudgins married Imogene Roberta Perryman on 13 August 1943 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. They were high school sweethearts.
He was stationed in the Philippines in 1945. Joseph H Hudgin sent an Easter card to his family, he wrote on back of card, "This was taken behind our tents, somewhere in the Philippines for Easter 1945.
He was shot down 5 April 1945 during a bombing mission over Amoy Harbor, China. Joseph was scheduled for R&R but volunteered to fly for a another pilot, Dietz, who had taken ill. This was not his mission to fly.
AIR MEDAL GIVEN
Reported missing in action Apr 5, 1945, Navy Lt. (jg) Joseph H. Hudgins, husband of Mrs. Imogene Hudgins of 4258 Russell Blvd has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight against enemy Japanese forces, the Navy announced yesterday.
The citation says that Lt. Hudgins participated as co-polot of a patrol bombing squadron , in five missions over an active combat area in the Pacific from Mar. 8 to Mar. 23, 1945, "and by his cool courage and outstanding skill in the face of grave hazards contributed materially to the success of his squadron'a aerial offensive. Source: St Louis Globe Democrat, 1945
Joseph Howard Hudgin was officially declared dead on 06 April 1946.
*******************************************************************************
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS posthumously to
LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, JOSEPH HOWARD HUDGINS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from December 18, 1944, to March 5, 1945. Completing twenty combat missions during this period, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hudgins contributed materially to the success of these missions. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave hazards were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
He also has a memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy
Service # 0-298892 United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Missouri
Branch of Service: VPB - 137 USNR
Date of Loss: 05 April 1945 over Amoy Harbor, China
Status: Missing in Action
Officially Declared Dead: 06 April 1946
Medals: Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross & Victory
Son of Joseph Cephas Hudgins & Madeline Lee Moss.
Graduated from McKinley High School - Class of Jan 1940.
He enlisted 01 August 1942 from Missouri - Cadet V-5 USNR
Ensign Joseph H. Hudgins, USNR, received his designation as a Naval Aviator on 24 July 1943 at the Naval Air Training Center,
Joseph Howard Hudgins married Imogene Roberta Perryman on 13 August 1943 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. They were high school sweethearts.
He was stationed in the Philippines in 1945. Joseph H Hudgin sent an Easter card to his family, he wrote on back of card, "This was taken behind our tents, somewhere in the Philippines for Easter 1945.
He was shot down 5 April 1945 during a bombing mission over Amoy Harbor, China. Joseph was scheduled for R&R but volunteered to fly for a another pilot, Dietz, who had taken ill. This was not his mission to fly.
AIR MEDAL GIVEN
Reported missing in action Apr 5, 1945, Navy Lt. (jg) Joseph H. Hudgins, husband of Mrs. Imogene Hudgins of 4258 Russell Blvd has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight against enemy Japanese forces, the Navy announced yesterday.
The citation says that Lt. Hudgins participated as co-polot of a patrol bombing squadron , in five missions over an active combat area in the Pacific from Mar. 8 to Mar. 23, 1945, "and by his cool courage and outstanding skill in the face of grave hazards contributed materially to the success of his squadron'a aerial offensive. Source: St Louis Globe Democrat, 1945
Joseph Howard Hudgin was officially declared dead on 06 April 1946.
*******************************************************************************
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS posthumously to
LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, JOSEPH HOWARD HUDGINS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from December 18, 1944, to March 5, 1945. Completing twenty combat missions during this period, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hudgins contributed materially to the success of these missions. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave hazards were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
He also has a memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Joseph H. Hudgins
Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy
Service # 0-298892 United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Missouri
Branch of Service: VPB - 137 USNR
Date of Loss: 05 April 1945 over Amoy Harbor, China
Status: Missing in Action
Officially Declared Dead: 06 April 1946
Medals: Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross & Victory
Son of Joseph Cephas Hudgins & Madeline Lee Moss.
Graduated from McKinley High School - Class of Jan 1940.
He enlisted 01 August 1942 from Missouri - Cadet V-5 USNR
Ensign Joseph H. Hudgins, USNR, received his designation as a Naval Aviator on 24 July 1943 at the Naval Air Training Center,
Joseph Howard Hudgins married Imogene Roberta Perryman on 13 August 1943 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. They were high school sweethearts.
He was stationed in the Philippines in 1945. Joseph H Hudgin sent an Easter card to his family, he wrote on back of card, "This was taken behind our tents, somewhere in the Philippines for Easter 1945.
He was shot down 5 April 1945 during a bombing mission over Amoy Harbor, China. Joseph was scheduled for R&R but volunteered to fly for a another pilot, Dietz, who had taken ill. This was not his mission to fly.
AIR MEDAL GIVEN
Reported missing in action Apr 5, 1945, Navy Lt. (jg) Joseph H. Hudgins, husband of Mrs. Imogene Hudgins of 4258 Russell Blvd has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight against enemy Japanese forces, the Navy announced yesterday.
The citation says that Lt. Hudgins participated as co-polot of a patrol bombing squadron , in five missions over an active combat area in the Pacific from Mar. 8 to Mar. 23, 1945, "and by his cool courage and outstanding skill in the face of grave hazards contributed materially to the success of his squadron'a aerial offensive. Source: St Louis Globe Democrat, 1945
Joseph Howard Hudgin was officially declared dead on 06 April 1946.
*******************************************************************************
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS posthumously to
LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, JOSEPH HOWARD HUDGINS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from December 18, 1944, to March 5, 1945. Completing twenty combat missions during this period, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hudgins contributed materially to the success of these missions. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave hazards were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
He also has a memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy
Service # 0-298892 United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Missouri
Branch of Service: VPB - 137 USNR
Date of Loss: 05 April 1945 over Amoy Harbor, China
Status: Missing in Action
Officially Declared Dead: 06 April 1946
Medals: Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross & Victory
Son of Joseph Cephas Hudgins & Madeline Lee Moss.
Graduated from McKinley High School - Class of Jan 1940.
He enlisted 01 August 1942 from Missouri - Cadet V-5 USNR
Ensign Joseph H. Hudgins, USNR, received his designation as a Naval Aviator on 24 July 1943 at the Naval Air Training Center,
Joseph Howard Hudgins married Imogene Roberta Perryman on 13 August 1943 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. They were high school sweethearts.
He was stationed in the Philippines in 1945. Joseph H Hudgin sent an Easter card to his family, he wrote on back of card, "This was taken behind our tents, somewhere in the Philippines for Easter 1945.
He was shot down 5 April 1945 during a bombing mission over Amoy Harbor, China. Joseph was scheduled for R&R but volunteered to fly for a another pilot, Dietz, who had taken ill. This was not his mission to fly.
AIR MEDAL GIVEN
Reported missing in action Apr 5, 1945, Navy Lt. (jg) Joseph H. Hudgins, husband of Mrs. Imogene Hudgins of 4258 Russell Blvd has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight against enemy Japanese forces, the Navy announced yesterday.
The citation says that Lt. Hudgins participated as co-polot of a patrol bombing squadron , in five missions over an active combat area in the Pacific from Mar. 8 to Mar. 23, 1945, "and by his cool courage and outstanding skill in the face of grave hazards contributed materially to the success of his squadron'a aerial offensive. Source: St Louis Globe Democrat, 1945
Joseph Howard Hudgin was officially declared dead on 06 April 1946.
*******************************************************************************
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS posthumously to
LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, JOSEPH HOWARD HUDGINS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from December 18, 1944, to March 5, 1945. Completing twenty combat missions during this period, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hudgins contributed materially to the success of these missions. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave hazards were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
He also has a memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Missouri.
