Edwin Leonard Howard was born on December 10, 1915, in Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of Oscar D. Howard and Irene Miller Howard. He enlisted in the service on September 16, 1942. He served in the 765th Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner of B-24J #42-52025 nicknamed “Arsenic and Lace” during World War II.

On December 17, 1944, the ''Arsenic and Lace'' took off from Torretta Airfield in Italy as part of a 15th Air Force mission to bomb the Odertal synthetic oil refinery in German-occupied Silesia. The formation was heavily engaged by German fighters near the target. At about 26,000 feet, Arsenic and Lace was hit and exploded in the air. Parts of the Liberator came down on the outskirts of Olomouc, in today’s Czech Republic, with wreckage falling by the Neředín Cemetery. Five of the crew of Arsenic and Lace were killed in action, while the rest were taken prisoner.

SSgt Howard was Killed in Action when he was hit by a 20mm cannon shell. He is now buried in the Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, USA.

Source of information: 461st.org, www.americanairmuseum.com