Hackney Claude J., Jr.

Name:

Claude J., Jr. Hackney

Rank:

Captain

Serial Number:

O-442633

Unit:

360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1944-12-26

State:

Florida

Cemetery:

Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands

Plot:

H

Row:

12

Grave:

10

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Claude J. Hackney, Jr. was born in 1921 in Florida. He was the son of Claude J. Hackney and Henrietta Groover Hackney.

Claude, Jr. served in the 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group as a Captain and Fighter Pilot during World War II. He was Killed in Action on December 26, 1944, in Germany in his P-51 #44-15609. He was on a strafing mission near Bonn, Germany when his plane was shot down. The flight, in which Cpt Hackney was flying number three position, bounced four FW 190s from six o'clock. Cpt Hackney's plane was seen to pull out in front, get strikes on one enemy aircraft, follow the enemy aircraft when it broke left, and from that point was not seen again. No radio contact could be made with him after.

Cpt Hackney is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

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