Hamilton J. Hofmeister was born on July 13, 1917. He served in the 451st Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator/Gunner on the B-26 Marauder #41-35021 'The Sheriff Rapides Parish Louisiana' during World War II.

On July 19, 1944, two groups of aircraft, a total of 36 twin-engine American bombers of the 32nd Bomb Group, the 451st Bomber Squadron, took off from Station 485 in Andrew Field, England, for a bombing raid on Nantes. At 7:58 PM, 'The Sheriff Rapides Parish Louisiana' was shot down by flak, hitting the left engine and setting the bomb bay on fire. Two crew members were able to bail out, but those who didn't make it were killed in this incident. TSgt Hofmeister was one of the casualties. He is now buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net