World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Hodge 'Junior' Collins
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Nash County, North Carolina
Honored By
A Grateful American
TECHNICAL SERGEANT, RADIO OPERATOR, FLEW THE B-24 LIBERATOR, 400TH SQUADRON 'BLACK PIRATES', 90TH BOMB GROUP (JOLLY ROGERS), FIFTH AIR FORCE, IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. MEMBER OF ALLEN HART CREW. HE WAS WITH THE LARK MARTIN PARTIAL CREW TESTING A PLANE WHICH WAS GETTING READY FOR COMBAT. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, IT CRASHED IN FRIENDLY WATERS. HE WAS KILLED SEPTEMBER 2, 1943. AWARDED: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AND AIR MEDAL.