Hugh W Branch
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssigned to 570BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. As a 1st Lt in the tail gunner position, 1Lt Branch was, probably, normally the co-pilot and had been bumped from his regular seat by the command pilot Lt Col Dolan. 7 x combat mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Merseburg in B-17 44-8080; A/C hit by flak 30-Nov-44, subsequent mid air collision with 42-97407 sealed his fate. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 11131
Awards: AM, PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12130233 / O-817196
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Saint
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 30 November 1944
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
Flur Oberkotzau, Germany | 30 November 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Merseburg in B-17 44-8080; A/C hit by flak 30-Nov-44, subsequent mid air collision with 42-97407 sealed his fate. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 11131 |
|
Born |
Norfolk, VA | Son of John Taylor and Elizabeth V Branch. | |
|
Buried |
Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Plot B Row 13 Grave 16 | ||
| Barbados, W. I. | Next of Kin Wife Helen C Branch; Codrington College, St John's, Barbados, West Indies. | ||
| District of Columbia | Joined the service from District of Columbia. |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- MACR 11131
MACR 11131 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database