Hibbard Howard R.

Name:

Howard R. Hibbard

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-8159000

Unit:

509th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1945-06-08

State:

Indiana

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery, United Kingdom

Plot:

D

Row:

7

Grave:

63

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Comments:

Howard R. Hibbard was the son of Lewis C. Hibbard & Eileen C. Hibbard who resided in Frankfort, Indiana.

Howard served in the 509th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17G #44-8639 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on June 8, 1945, when his airplane clipped the high ground on a ridgeside, then skidded along the mountainside of Craig Cwm Llwyd near Barmouth, Wales, and burst into flames. His B-17 was returning to the United States following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe. They were flying from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to the RAF Valley Airfield on Anglesey before the final leg back to the United States. All men aboard his plane were killed as a result of the crash.

1Lt Hibbard is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov