Howard Homer Melvin

Monuments

B-17 (42-5788) 'Pluto's Avenger' Crash Memorial -303rd Bomber Group

Name:

Homer Melvin Howard

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-688592

Unit:

360th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1986-08-20

State:

Texas

Cemetery:

Grand View Memorial Park, Deer Park, Harris County, Texas, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

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Comments:

Homer Melvin Howard was born on May 15, 1918, in Joshua, Johnson County, Texas. He was the son of Robert Lee "Bobby" Howard and Nina Coleta Polson Howard. He served in the 360th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17F #42-5788 nicknamed 'Pluto's Avenger' and also known as 'A.O.G. Not in Stock,' during World War II.

On February 22, 1944, during Mission #111 to Aschersleben, Germany, B-17F #42-5788 Pluto's Avenger was attacked by German fighters. The aircraft remained in a controlled shallow dive with its #4 engine smoking before crashing near Duffel, 15 km southwest of Antwerp, Belgium. Tragically, four crew members died and six others became prisoners of war, while Major George Weinbrenner evaded capture and returned to the UK in September 1944.

2Lt Howard was captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft I in Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia. He died on August 20, 1986, and is now buried in the Grand View Memorial Park, Deer Park, Harris County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: http://www.303rdbg.com/