World War II Honoree

Eugene F. Hennig

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TRANSPORT PILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 301ST TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 441ST TROOP CARRIER GROUP, IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND, A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE STATIONED AT MERRYFIELD ENGLAND, U.S. ARMY AIRFIELD STATION #479. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS OF D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 3 OTHER AIR CORPS PERSONNEL AND 18 PARATROOPERS WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED NEAR VARENGUEBEC, WEST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THE DISASTER OCCURRED DUE TO THE DECISIVE AND ACCURATE ARTILLERY FIRE FROM GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTERIES AS THE C-47 APPROACHED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-D, ASSIGNED TO DELTA COMPANY, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO ARKANSAS FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.