Osborne Howell C., Jr.

Name:

Howell C., Jr. Osborne

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-685276

Unit:

335th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-04-10

State:

Arkansas

Cemetery:

Forest Park Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Howell C. Osborne, Jr. was born on August 20, 1922. He grew up in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas along with his brothers William and Thomas and sister Martha. He was married to Francis W. Osborne (Nee Stewart of Van Buren, Arkansas) and had a daughter named Ann.

Howell learned to fly Vultee BT13 Valiant's as an Aviation Cadet at Coffeyville Army Airfield, Kansas. He completed his basic flying course as a member of Class 43-F, achieved his rating as a pilot on June 26, 1943, and his instrument rating on the 19th October 1943.

After initial training he was transferred to the 335th Bombardment Group, Barksdale, Louisiana where he was selected to train on the B26 Marauder, Medium Bomber.

On the April 10, 1944 at 1445hrs three B26 Marauders took off from Toome on a Gunnery Training Mission. 2nd Lt Richard A. Newman flew the lead plane No. 025. The right wingman flying aircraft No. 054 was 2nd Lt Eugene G. Wegman and the left wingman flying aircraft No. 41-18150 a B26b-4 was 2nd Lt Howell C. Osborne, Jr.

Weather on that day was described as visibility four miles, Stratus clouds at one thousand feet, overcast with breaks, reported haze. At approximately 1530 hrs Lt. Osborne's plane started to lag behind the formation, disappeared into the clouds, and subsequently crashed into Chimney Rock Mountains, Newcastle, North Ireland. All five on board were killed. The crew was buried in the Lisnabreeny Former American Military Cemetery in England. The cemetery closed in 1948 and his remains were exhumed and transferred.

The crew of the B26B-4 #41-18150 were as follows:

2nd Lt Howell C. Osborne Jr (Pilot) ID: O-685276 (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
2nd Lt Chester M. Turner (Co Pilot) ID: O-753462 (Cowley County, Kansas)
Staff Sgt Roy R. Cappe Jr (Aerial Engineer) ID: 13041696 (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania)
Staff Sgt William J. Devenney (Radio Gunner) ID: 33367015 (Carbon County, Pennsylvania)
Sgt Jimmie Gyovai (Engineer Gunner) ID: 15337609 (Boone County, West Virginia)

At the time of the accident he had completed 230 hours, 40 minutes flying time on the B26. 2LT Osborne is buried now in the Forest Park Cemetery, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://www.chimneyrockb26crash.com