World War II Honoree

Howard Frank Ayers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Amanda Cockcroft

Relationship

I look after the memorial where he lost his life

He served as a radio operator with the 398th bomb group / 603rd bomber squadron. He flew on B-17 Flying Fortresses and was assigned to the 603rd in September 1944. He flew on several missions as part of the Spangler crew and was an Air Medal receiptient, with an oak leaf cluster being awarded posthumously. He was killed on January 2nd, 1945, when the B-17 he was on board crashed while being ferried from Burtonwood to Station 131 Nuthampstead.