World War II Honoree

Conrad J. Hembree

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Blount County, Tennessee

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 13 FEBRUARY 1943 AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, FIFTH AIR FORCE, 309TH BOMB WING, 43RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 64TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT THE LAE-NADZAB AIRFIELD COMPLEX, NEW GUINEA. ON 13 JUNE 1944 (FROM MOKERANG AIRFIELD), HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER ONBOARD A B-24D LIBERATOR NICKNAMED THE 'UNCLE SAM' (TAIL # 42-72811) ON A NIGHT-TIME PATHFINDER STRIKE MISSION TO BOMB JAPANESE AIR AND NAVAL FORCES ON YAP IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS INTO THE 13-HOUR ROUND TRIP MISSION, THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES AND CRASHED IN THE OCEAN, WITH NO SURVIVORS.