Donald Francis Hoilman was born on November 11, 1920, in Ohio. He served in the 548th Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner on the B-17 #42-31380 during World War II.

On February 8, 1944, the crew took off at 07:30 from Station 155 airfield in Great Ashfield, England, for a mission to Wiesbaden/Frankfurt, Germany. Hit by flak and out of fuel, their plane crashed near Pont-Audemer, France. Fortunately, the crew bailed out prior to the crash. Most evaded German capture (including SSgt Hoilman) and were returned to England over several months in 1944. Three members were captured by the Germans. SSgt Hoilman was one of the 152 allied airmen and soldiers who were helped and hidden in the Freteval Forest camp by the French Resistance to evade German capture.

The crew that day:
1LT Francis Pabich, Pilot, EVD, returned in June 1944
2LT Philip A Capo, Co-Pilot, EVD, returned in March 1944
2LT Edward J Carey, Navigator, EVD, returned June 1944
2LT David H Flores, Bombardier, POW
TSGT George (NMI) Solomon, Radio Operator, EVD, returned in August 1944
TSGT Joseph I Gorrono, Top Turret Gunner, EVD
SSGT James A Fulgham. Ball Turret Gunner, POW
SSGT Emmett V Bone. Left Waist Gunner, EVD, returned in August 1944
SSGT Francis W Graves, Right Waist Gunner, POW
SSGT Donald F Hollman, Tail Gunner, EVD

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net