Son of Oscar Lee Hoover and Bertha Dora Wilson. He had one sister, Maeola Hoover and three brother's; William, Elmo and Arlin Hoover. James is reported as having been small in size, standing only 5'3" tall but he was a giant of a man in his valiant service in World War II.
Hoover graduated from Sulpher Rock High School and was his class valedictorian. After high school he attended Arkansas College and worked as a bookkeeper. In March of 1940 he took a course in the Civil Pilot Training Program at the Casey Jones Flying Service, Ontario, Oregon, and Webb's Flying Service, Boise Air Terminal, Boise, Idaho. He received his private pilot's license on 1/30/1941. In October 1941, he resigned his position as bookkeeper for the Casey Jones Flying Service and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (CRAF) on 11/1/1941. He received his commission as pilot officer at Hagersville, Ontario, 10/9/1942. Hoover arrived at the Port of Embarkation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 10/27/1942 and departed for England. On 11/5/1942 Hoover reported for duty with the Royal Air Force. On 3/23/1943, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAF) and was assigned as a lieutenant in the 409th Bombardment Squadron, known as "Ted's Flying Circus" (named after their commander Edward J. "Ted" Timberlake), of the 8th Air Force, flying B-24 bombers. In June of 1943 he was sent to North Africa and participated in the bombing raids on the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania. On 8/1/1943 Hoover was reported as being Missing in Action. His bomber had been damaged and had been forced to land in Turkey where he was captured. In October he was able to escape and rejoined his unit.
On 11/13/1944 Hoover boarded B-24 serial # 41-24298 nicknamed "Queenie". Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #2189 states the plane was on a mission to bomb the city of Bremen, Germany. The plane dropped out of formation briefly and was attempting to rejoin the group when it was attacked by German ME-109 fighters. The #2 engine was on fire and the plane went into a cloud in a flat spin and one of the wings may have been gone at that point. The other planes in the formation could not tell 100% the events due to poor visibility and weather conditions. The crew consisted of the following personnel:
Capt Ralph P. Gewehr, Pilot
1stLt James K. Hoover, Co-pilot
1stLt Michael G. Kennedy, Navigator
2ndLt John H. Penisten, Bombadier
T/Sgt Alfred M. Zielaskowski, Engineer
T/Sgt Frederick W. Fox, Radio Operator
Sgt John W. Shaw, Gunner
Sgt Billy H. Self, Gunner
S/Sgt George L. Jeffrey, Gunner
Sgt Elton J. Schulties, Gunner
Capt John P. Bowman, passenger
Six crew member bodies floated ashore on the west coast of the Isle of Amrum near Norddorf, Germany, 11/13-14/1943 in the North Sea. One of those bodies was identified as Lt. James K. Hoover. Capt Bowman 's body was found on 1/28/1944 of the Island of Foehr. The bodies of the remaining four crew mates were never recovered.
Hoover was temporarily buried at Nueville-En-Condroz Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. After the war, at the request of family, his remains were moved to a permanent cemetery at the Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hoover had flown 54 missions (with the CRAF and the USAAf)over enemy territory before he was killed in action on 11/13/1943.
Second Lieutenant James K. Hoover, Sn# 0-2044432, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the Canadian Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Corps in World War II:
Canadian Decorations
- Canadian Royal Air Force Pilot's Wings
- 1939-1945 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- The Defense Medal
- Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver bar/Leaf device
- War Medal 1939-1945
U.S. decorations
- Silver Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart
- European Theater of Operations Medal with 2 bronze battle/campaign stars
- Prisoner of War Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
Hoover graduated from Sulpher Rock High School and was his class valedictorian. After high school he attended Arkansas College and worked as a bookkeeper. In March of 1940 he took a course in the Civil Pilot Training Program at the Casey Jones Flying Service, Ontario, Oregon, and Webb's Flying Service, Boise Air Terminal, Boise, Idaho. He received his private pilot's license on 1/30/1941. In October 1941, he resigned his position as bookkeeper for the Casey Jones Flying Service and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (CRAF) on 11/1/1941. He received his commission as pilot officer at Hagersville, Ontario, 10/9/1942. Hoover arrived at the Port of Embarkation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 10/27/1942 and departed for England. On 11/5/1942 Hoover reported for duty with the Royal Air Force. On 3/23/1943, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAF) and was assigned as a lieutenant in the 409th Bombardment Squadron, known as "Ted's Flying Circus" (named after their commander Edward J. "Ted" Timberlake), of the 8th Air Force, flying B-24 bombers. In June of 1943 he was sent to North Africa and participated in the bombing raids on the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania. On 8/1/1943 Hoover was reported as being Missing in Action. His bomber had been damaged and had been forced to land in Turkey where he was captured. In October he was able to escape and rejoined his unit.
On 11/13/1944 Hoover boarded B-24 serial # 41-24298 nicknamed "Queenie". Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #2189 states the plane was on a mission to bomb the city of Bremen, Germany. The plane dropped out of formation briefly and was attempting to rejoin the group when it was attacked by German ME-109 fighters. The #2 engine was on fire and the plane went into a cloud in a flat spin and one of the wings may have been gone at that point. The other planes in the formation could not tell 100% the events due to poor visibility and weather conditions. The crew consisted of the following personnel:
Capt Ralph P. Gewehr, Pilot
1stLt James K. Hoover, Co-pilot
1stLt Michael G. Kennedy, Navigator
2ndLt John H. Penisten, Bombadier
T/Sgt Alfred M. Zielaskowski, Engineer
T/Sgt Frederick W. Fox, Radio Operator
Sgt John W. Shaw, Gunner
Sgt Billy H. Self, Gunner
S/Sgt George L. Jeffrey, Gunner
Sgt Elton J. Schulties, Gunner
Capt John P. Bowman, passenger
Six crew member bodies floated ashore on the west coast of the Isle of Amrum near Norddorf, Germany, 11/13-14/1943 in the North Sea. One of those bodies was identified as Lt. James K. Hoover. Capt Bowman 's body was found on 1/28/1944 of the Island of Foehr. The bodies of the remaining four crew mates were never recovered.
Hoover was temporarily buried at Nueville-En-Condroz Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. After the war, at the request of family, his remains were moved to a permanent cemetery at the Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hoover had flown 54 missions (with the CRAF and the USAAf)over enemy territory before he was killed in action on 11/13/1943.
Second Lieutenant James K. Hoover, Sn# 0-2044432, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the Canadian Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Corps in World War II:
Canadian Decorations
- Canadian Royal Air Force Pilot's Wings
- 1939-1945 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- The Defense Medal
- Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver bar/Leaf device
- War Medal 1939-1945
U.S. decorations
- Silver Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart
- European Theater of Operations Medal with 2 bronze battle/campaign stars
- Prisoner of War Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
Son of Oscar Lee Hoover and Bertha Dora Wilson. He had one sister, Maeola Hoover and three brother's; William, Elmo and Arlin Hoover. James is reported as having been small in size, standing only 5'3" tall but he was a giant of a man in his valiant service in World War II.
Hoover graduated from Sulpher Rock High School and was his class valedictorian. After high school he attended Arkansas College and worked as a bookkeeper. In March of 1940 he took a course in the Civil Pilot Training Program at the Casey Jones Flying Service, Ontario, Oregon, and Webb's Flying Service, Boise Air Terminal, Boise, Idaho. He received his private pilot's license on 1/30/1941. In October 1941, he resigned his position as bookkeeper for the Casey Jones Flying Service and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (CRAF) on 11/1/1941. He received his commission as pilot officer at Hagersville, Ontario, 10/9/1942. Hoover arrived at the Port of Embarkation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 10/27/1942 and departed for England. On 11/5/1942 Hoover reported for duty with the Royal Air Force. On 3/23/1943, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAF) and was assigned as a lieutenant in the 409th Bombardment Squadron, known as "Ted's Flying Circus" (named after their commander Edward J. "Ted" Timberlake), of the 8th Air Force, flying B-24 bombers. In June of 1943 he was sent to North Africa and participated in the bombing raids on the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania. On 8/1/1943 Hoover was reported as being Missing in Action. His bomber had been damaged and had been forced to land in Turkey where he was captured. In October he was able to escape and rejoined his unit.
On 11/13/1944 Hoover boarded B-24 serial # 41-24298 nicknamed "Queenie". Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #2189 states the plane was on a mission to bomb the city of Bremen, Germany. The plane dropped out of formation briefly and was attempting to rejoin the group when it was attacked by German ME-109 fighters. The #2 engine was on fire and the plane went into a cloud in a flat spin and one of the wings may have been gone at that point. The other planes in the formation could not tell 100% the events due to poor visibility and weather conditions. The crew consisted of the following personnel:
Capt Ralph P. Gewehr, Pilot
1stLt James K. Hoover, Co-pilot
1stLt Michael G. Kennedy, Navigator
2ndLt John H. Penisten, Bombadier
T/Sgt Alfred M. Zielaskowski, Engineer
T/Sgt Frederick W. Fox, Radio Operator
Sgt John W. Shaw, Gunner
Sgt Billy H. Self, Gunner
S/Sgt George L. Jeffrey, Gunner
Sgt Elton J. Schulties, Gunner
Capt John P. Bowman, passenger
Six crew member bodies floated ashore on the west coast of the Isle of Amrum near Norddorf, Germany, 11/13-14/1943 in the North Sea. One of those bodies was identified as Lt. James K. Hoover. Capt Bowman 's body was found on 1/28/1944 of the Island of Foehr. The bodies of the remaining four crew mates were never recovered.
Hoover was temporarily buried at Nueville-En-Condroz Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. After the war, at the request of family, his remains were moved to a permanent cemetery at the Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hoover had flown 54 missions (with the CRAF and the USAAf)over enemy territory before he was killed in action on 11/13/1943.
Second Lieutenant James K. Hoover, Sn# 0-2044432, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the Canadian Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Corps in World War II:
Canadian Decorations
- Canadian Royal Air Force Pilot's Wings
- 1939-1945 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- The Defense Medal
- Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver bar/Leaf device
- War Medal 1939-1945
U.S. decorations
- Silver Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart
- European Theater of Operations Medal with 2 bronze battle/campaign stars
- Prisoner of War Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
Hoover graduated from Sulpher Rock High School and was his class valedictorian. After high school he attended Arkansas College and worked as a bookkeeper. In March of 1940 he took a course in the Civil Pilot Training Program at the Casey Jones Flying Service, Ontario, Oregon, and Webb's Flying Service, Boise Air Terminal, Boise, Idaho. He received his private pilot's license on 1/30/1941. In October 1941, he resigned his position as bookkeeper for the Casey Jones Flying Service and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (CRAF) on 11/1/1941. He received his commission as pilot officer at Hagersville, Ontario, 10/9/1942. Hoover arrived at the Port of Embarkation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 10/27/1942 and departed for England. On 11/5/1942 Hoover reported for duty with the Royal Air Force. On 3/23/1943, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAF) and was assigned as a lieutenant in the 409th Bombardment Squadron, known as "Ted's Flying Circus" (named after their commander Edward J. "Ted" Timberlake), of the 8th Air Force, flying B-24 bombers. In June of 1943 he was sent to North Africa and participated in the bombing raids on the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania. On 8/1/1943 Hoover was reported as being Missing in Action. His bomber had been damaged and had been forced to land in Turkey where he was captured. In October he was able to escape and rejoined his unit.
On 11/13/1944 Hoover boarded B-24 serial # 41-24298 nicknamed "Queenie". Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #2189 states the plane was on a mission to bomb the city of Bremen, Germany. The plane dropped out of formation briefly and was attempting to rejoin the group when it was attacked by German ME-109 fighters. The #2 engine was on fire and the plane went into a cloud in a flat spin and one of the wings may have been gone at that point. The other planes in the formation could not tell 100% the events due to poor visibility and weather conditions. The crew consisted of the following personnel:
Capt Ralph P. Gewehr, Pilot
1stLt James K. Hoover, Co-pilot
1stLt Michael G. Kennedy, Navigator
2ndLt John H. Penisten, Bombadier
T/Sgt Alfred M. Zielaskowski, Engineer
T/Sgt Frederick W. Fox, Radio Operator
Sgt John W. Shaw, Gunner
Sgt Billy H. Self, Gunner
S/Sgt George L. Jeffrey, Gunner
Sgt Elton J. Schulties, Gunner
Capt John P. Bowman, passenger
Six crew member bodies floated ashore on the west coast of the Isle of Amrum near Norddorf, Germany, 11/13-14/1943 in the North Sea. One of those bodies was identified as Lt. James K. Hoover. Capt Bowman 's body was found on 1/28/1944 of the Island of Foehr. The bodies of the remaining four crew mates were never recovered.
Hoover was temporarily buried at Nueville-En-Condroz Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. After the war, at the request of family, his remains were moved to a permanent cemetery at the Little Rock National Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hoover had flown 54 missions (with the CRAF and the USAAf)over enemy territory before he was killed in action on 11/13/1943.
Second Lieutenant James K. Hoover, Sn# 0-2044432, earned the following badges/decorations for his service with the Canadian Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Corps in World War II:
Canadian Decorations
- Canadian Royal Air Force Pilot's Wings
- 1939-1945 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- The Defense Medal
- Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver bar/Leaf device
- War Medal 1939-1945
U.S. decorations
- Silver Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart
- European Theater of Operations Medal with 2 bronze battle/campaign stars
- Prisoner of War Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
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