World War II Honoree

Hugh Augustus Ward

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Charleston, South Carolina

Honored By

Daughter

HE ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE, TRANSFERRED TO THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND AGAIN TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES WHERE HE SERVED AS A FIGHTER PILOT. WHEN HE FLEW THE FIRST DAYLIGHT AIR RAID OVER BERLIN, AFTER A DOGFIGHT WITH A MESSERSCHMITT, HE WAS STRUCK WITH EXPLODING PARTS WHICH TORE OFF THE WING AND TAIL OF HIS P-51 AIRCRAFT. HE BAILED OUT OVER BERLIN ONLY TO LAND IN THE PARK. THE TOWNSPEOPLE WERE ABOUT TO PUT A NOOSE OVER HIS HEAD WHEN HE WAS TAKEN BY THE GERMANS MILITARY AND PUT INTO A GERMAN PRISON CAMP. HE SPENT 14 MONTHS IN A GERMAN PRISON CAMP, STALAG LUFT 1. AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE WAS LIBERATED AND LEFT GERMANY TO RETURN TO THE U.S.