Flores David Virgil

Name:

David Virgil Flores

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

18121892

Unit:

600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-12-24

State:

New Mexico

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England

Plot:

C

Row:

1

Grave:

61

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

David Virgil Flores was born on September 24, 1920, in Vanadium, Grant County, New Mexico. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #42-102536 nicknamed ''Here's Hopin'' during World War II.

On December 24, 1944, the 'Here's Hopin' crashed shortly after takeoff from Nuthampstead Air Base in England. The aircraft was departing on a mission to Merzehausen, Germany, when it went down near Little Chishill, close to Saffron Walden, Essex. The crash resulted in the deaths of two crew members, while the remaining crew members survived the incident. The aircraft was salvaged the following day by the 71st Maintenance Unit at Slough.

SSgt Flores was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. David V. Flores' name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 16, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, 398th.org