World War II Honoree

Hipolitus Thomas 'Tom' Biel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Paul, Minnesota

Honored By

Mike Walsh

ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE IN AUGUST 1941 AND SERVED AS A PILOT UNTIL HIS DISCHARGE IN MARCH 1943 WHEN HE WENT TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. HE WAS A P-51B FIGHTER PILOT IN THE 334TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 4TH FIGHTER GROUP. HE SHOT DOWN 5 GERMAN AIRCRAFT AND DESTROYED ANOTHER 6 ON THE GROUND. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT ABOUT 1300 HOURS ON APRIL 24TH, 1944 WHEN HE WAS SHOT DOWN BY A GERMAN BF-109 FIGHTER NEAR WORMS, GERMANY. IN 1949 HE WAS BURIED IN THE CALVARY CEMETERY IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.