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Hoeffler Donald J.

Name:
Donald J. Hoeffler
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-766267
Unit:
849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-09-01
State:
California
Cemetery:
Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California
Plot:
K
Row:
Grave:
102
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments:

Donald J. Hoeffler was born on March 30, 1922, in California. He resided in California prior to the war.

Donald served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-17G #43-37941 "Miss Ana Bortion" during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 1, 1944, when his airplane collided with B17 #43-38184.

That day, his crew took off from Station 134 in Eye, Suffolk, on a group mission to Gustavburg, Germany. When the target was not visible through the overcast, their mission was aborted, and the group executed a 180-degree turn to return to base. At 11:59 AM near Anthieux-Sur-Calonne, France, while flying through the dense clouds, his plane collided with the alongside #43-38184 after crossing the French coast at 18,000 feet.

Both aircraft suffered catastrophic structural failure and crashed near Cabourg, France. Unfortunately, all members of Miss Ana Bortion's crew were killed.

2Lt Hoeffler is now buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, USA.

Crew members of the B-17G #43-37941 "Miss Ana Bortion":
Maj Francis Hopkins Dresser - Command Pilot
1Lt Charles S Frey - Pilot
2Lt George W Hixson - Co-Pilot
F/O Lowell Shuman - Navigator
2Lt Donald Hoeffler - Bombardier
S/Sgt Thomas H Gossett - Radio Operator/Gunner
S/Sgt Floyd G Hall - Mechanic/Gunner
Sgt Calvin Charles Pulver - Tail Gunner
Sgt Donald L Russell - Waist Gunner
Sgt Edward C Schanhaar - Ball Turret Gunner

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