World War II Honoree

Hovey S. Dabney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Charlottesville, Virginia

Honored By

VMI-Mc'43

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES AND BECAME A RADIO OPERATOR WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE STATIONED IN FOGGIA, ITALY. DURING HIS FIRST COMBAT MISSION, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN OVER BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. HE PARACHUTED OUT OF THE BURNING B-17 AND LANDED BEHIND ENEMY LINES, BREAKING BOTH OF HIS ANKLES ON IMPACT. HE ESCAPED THROUGH GERMAN AND RUSSIAN LINES AND FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO AN AMERICAN CAMP 3 MONTHS LATER. HE WENT ON TO COMPLETE 24 ADDITIONAL MISSIONS. AWARDED A PURPLE HEART AND A NUMBER OF OTHER MEDALS. HE WAS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.