George Gustav Hoehn was born on February 27, 1921, in Marouge, Illinois. He was the son of John Hoehn and Minnie Spiedel Hoehn. He graduated from Lane Technical High School and worked for the Graybar Electric Company before entering service on August 13, 1941. After completing five combat missions and recovering from wounds sustained in November 1943, he returned to duty. He served in the 561st Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17G #42-37867 nicknamed 'Berlin Ambassador' during World War II.

On January 11, 1944, the B-17 Flying Fortress Berlin Ambassador, assigned to the 561st Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, departed England as part of an Eighth Air Force mission targeting the heavily defended industrial city of Braunschweig, Germany. As the formation entered enemy airspace, it came under intense attack from German fighters, and the Berlin Ambassador sustained severe damage that compromised its structure and critical systems. Unable to maintain formation and struggling to stay aloft, the crippled bomber attempted to withdraw, but the damage proved fatal. While crossing the Netherlands near Berkum, close to Zwolle, the aircraft became uncontrollable, forcing the crew to bail out as it descended. Moments later, the B-17 crashed near Berkum, bringing its final mission to an end. Of the ten-man crew, four were killed in the crash, five were captured and became prisoners of war, and one evaded capture temporarily before later being captured.

2Lt Hoehn remained at the controls to prevent the aircraft from crashing into the city of Zwolle and was killed in action. A street was later named in his honor. He is now buried in the Concordia Cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl