World War II Honoree

Howard Perry Hamblen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Salem, Illinois

Honored By

Jeannine Chayne

Relationship

Niece

He was killed in service along with nine others, in a weather-related plane crash, two miles south of Smokey Hill Army Airfield in Salina, Kansas. There were extreme thunderstorms in the area. His plane encountered one. While attempting to land. The pilot radioed the tower reporting he could no longer see the landing lights. As the pilot was making a shallow left banking turn to go around, the airplane, collided with the ground and broke apart. Ten of the Thirteen on board were killed. The investigators could not determine with certainty if the B-17 was struck by lightning or the pilot flew into the ground after being blinded by the bright flash from the lightning.