World War II Honoree

Howard Wesley Beaver

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Beatrice, Nebraska

Honored By

Daughter & Son

PILOT WITH THE 79TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 436TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP. AMONG THE FIRST GROUP TO DROP PARATROOPERS OVER NORMANDY ON D-DAY. THEN RETURNED TO ENGLAND AND TOWED TROOP-LADEN GLIDERS TO REINFORCE THE PARATROOPERS. THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR WAS SPENT FLYING AIR EVACUATION AND RE-SUPPLY MISSIONS ALL OVER EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA, AS WELL AS DROPPING PARATROOPERS AND GLIDERS IN THE SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION, THE HOLLAND INVASION AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN FRANCE. AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE FLEW ALL NATIONALITIES OF PRISONERS OUT OF PRISON CAMPS AND BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONS.