World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John W. Herb
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Honored By
William Stegall
SECOND LIEUTENANT. DIED AT AGE 22. ASSIGNED TO 368TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 359TH FIGHTER GROUP, 1ST AIR DIVISION AS A PILOT OF A P-51D MUSTANG. ON APRIL 13, 1945 WHILE RETURNING TO ENGLAND FROM ESCORTING BOMBERS TO GUSTROW, GERMANY, HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISABLE GERMAN AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND BY STRAFING. HIS PLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE AND HE CRASH LANDED IN A OPEN FIELD SOUTHEAST OF HAMBURG. HE WAS TAKEN OUT AND SHOT BY A GERMAN SOLDIER, WHICH WAS WITNESSED BY LOCALS. ORIGINALLY LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, BUT WAS LATER CHANGED TO KILLED IN ACTION WHEN HIS GRAVE WAS LOCATED BY MILITARY OFFICIALS AND WITNESSES. IN JUNE 2014, HE WAS ID'D AND RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY FOR BURIAL AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART MEDAL.