671st BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

S/Sgt. Hollis Alfred Foster

Airplane Armorer - Gunner,  37019048

Killed In Action - May 12, 1944

671st Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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      Born: 19-Dec-1918, Wakonda, Clay County, South Dakota

Entered Military Service: Date: 18-Jul-1941 From: Marshall County, South Dakota

Buried: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri, Plot: Section 84 Site 387-391

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave


See also S/Sgt Hollis Alfred Foster Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(Courtesy of Geoff Gentilini, Golden Arrow Research, LLC)
 Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
 Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.

From the archives of the 671st Bomb Sq.: "S/Sgt. Foster who had finished a tour in the Southwest Pacific Theater

before joining the 671st in August was rated as one of the best gunners in theGroup and was someone the

less-experienced crews could go to for advice and be sure it was the right kind."

 

The afternoon mission on 12 May 44, the 46th for the 416th Bomb Group was to a Noball site at Beauvoir, France. On the bomb run, Lt. Stockwell's aircraft received a direct hit in the open bomb bay, just after release of their bombs, causing an explosion within the aircraft. Ssgt Rust was the tunnel gunner and able to exit through the ventral opening. Lt. Jedinak, the Bombardier/Navigator, after much difficulty, was able to clear the aircraft through his escape hatch. Lt. Stockwell and Ssgt Foster went down with the aircraft. This sensational photo was widely published at the time and since.



Notes:
A/C Seen to Crash. Lost as a result of Enemy Anti-Aircraft. While on bomb run just after the release of bombs, aircraft received direct hit from flak under bomb bay. Flames exploded aircraft [unreadable].

Description:
One plane received a direct hit from flak while in the target area. It burst into flames and crashed a mile west of the target. Two chutes were seen to come out of the plane. Its crew was 1st Lt Robert E. Stockwell, pilot, 2d Lt Albert Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, S/Sgt Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt Egon W. Rust, gunners. Lt Stockwell had been with the Group almost from the beginning of its existence.
(416th BG History 1944)

See also MACR 4634 and Mission # 46



Photos and Documents
1920 US Census
1930 US Census
1935 SD State Census
A/C 43-10129
A/C 43-10129 flown by 1st Lt. Robert E. Stockwell on 12 May 44
Portrait
Portrait
The Daily Plainsman (Huron, South Dakota) 22 Jul 1944, Sat Page 3
Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) 22 Jun 1944, Thu Page 2
Interment Control Form
Interment Control Form
Interment Control Form
Headstone Memorial
WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
National World War II Memorial Registry
 
 


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources