World War II Honoree

Henry E. 'Hank' Chouteau

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pinedale, Wyoming

Honored By

Joseph A. Bligh

Relationship

Northrop Grumman Co-Retiree

COMPLETED FLIGHT TRAINING IN MARCH 1944. ASSIGNED TO COMBAT CREW SCHOOL (CCS) FOR THE MARTIN B-26 AT BARKSDALE, LOUISIANA. UPON ARRIVAL, HE WAS PULLED OUT AND SENT TO GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI TO FLY IN A TOW TARGET SQUADRON, TOWING FOR A CCS B-17. AFTER 4 MONTHS, HE WAS CHECKED OUT AS B-26 FIRST PILOT AND GIVEN OWN CREW FOR TRAINING. AT THIS POINT, HE WAS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD. THEN WAS SENT TO HUNTER FIELD, GEORGIA TO PICK UP A FACTORY-FRESH B-26. THEN FLEW THE SOUTHERN ROUTE TO ENGLAND VIA NATAL, BRAZIL TO ASCENSION ISLAND TO AFRICA THEN NORTH TO ENGLAND. JOINED THE 394TH BOMB GROUP, 587TH BOMB SQUADRON AT CAMBRAI, FRANCE. FLEW 10 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY BEFORE UNIT WAS TRANSFERRED TO VENLO, HOLLAND TO START OPERATIONS AGAINST GERMANS IN NORWAY. AFTER 2 HOURS INTO THE FIRST MISSION, RECALLED BECAUSE THE WAR WAS OVER. STAYED IN EUROPE UNTIL JUNE 1946 THEN RETURNED TO U.S. AND SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE TO ENTER THE RESERVE. RECEIVED HONORABLE DISCHARGE. AWARDS INCLUDED AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, 2 BATTLE STARS FOR THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND GERMAN OCCUPATION MEDAL. COMPILED 46 COMBAT HOURS.