Byron Albert Evans
Military ROLL OF HONOURCapt. Evans' aircraft was last seen chasing an H. B. 109 in a vertical dive, entering a cloud layer at 6,000 ft. in the vicinity of San Quentin, France on a bomber escort mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944 in P-47D #42-8507. Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
![Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Zombie" at Martlesham Heath air base. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'ZOMBIE yellow, black outline. [illegible text] black white common practice of 361st FS.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377162.jpg.webp?itok=Cj8CR9kY)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 356th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Born |
17 October 1917 | New York, USA | |
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Died |
11 February 1944 | ||
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Other Mrs. Evans given Husband's Awards |
4 February 1945 | The Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters awarded to Captain Byron A. Evans were presented to his wife. Mrs. Mary P. Evans of McAllen, by Col. Frank Jamison at a ceremony which took place Friday during the formal retreat and review at Moore Field. Captain Evans, a member of the Eighth Fighter Command, is reported missing in action. "For extraordinary achievement In accomplishing fifty fighter combat missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe, the citation read which accompanied the DFC. "The skillful and zealous manner in which this officer had sought out the enemy and engaged him in aerial combat, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions, serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers, His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States." Standing beside Colonel Jamison following the ceremony, Mrs. Evans, whoso McAllen address is [redacted] reviewed a parade of military personnel composed of officers and enlisted men from every section on the post. | |
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Buried |
Service # O-024847 Rank Captain U.S. Army Air Forces Entered Service From New York Date of Death February 11 1944 Buried Plot B Row 26 Grave 38 Epinal American Cemetery Epinal American Cemetery 385, rue de la Rondenolle 88000 Dinozé France | ||
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Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
France | 11 February 1944 | |
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Other Promoted |
Promoted from second to first lieutenant | ||
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Other Graduated West Point |
Class of 1942 | ||
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Other |
Bio in 1945: Enlisted in the Army at Fort Monroe, VA after spending two years at the University of Minnesota. At Fort Monroe he attended the Army Preparatory School and won by competitive examination appointment to West Point. He was graduated from West Point in 1942, a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps. He entered Air Corps training schools following his graduation with primary training at Grider Field, Pine Bluff, Ark. His basic training was given at Randolph Field, Texas, and his advanced course at Foster Field, Victoria, Texas. He then transferred to the Air Corps as pilot-officer. At Mitchell Field L. I. Captain Evans was assigned to the 360th Fighter Squadron. After special training in the summer of 1943, in the Thunderbolt P-47 plane, his outfit was sent to England in September 1943. He was decorated with the Air Medal, receiving his third cluster in January 1944. Captain Evans has a brother Lt. Col. Albert L. Evans Jr. who has been with the 80th fighter group in the 10th Air Force in India (Al commanded the Burma Banshees) and his father Albert L Evans Sr. was a retired colonel in 1943 with the Army. | ||
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Other Promoted to Captain |
After special training last summer in Thunderbolt P-47 lilane, his outfit was sent to England in September, 1943. Since then he has been flying constantly on missions Over Germany, France and the Netherlands, as a fighter pilot and flight leader. He has been decorated with the Air Medal and received his third Oak Leaf cluster in January. He wm about ready to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross when he was reported missing in action. He was made a first lieutenant in the Air Forces In February, 1943, promoted to captain in England in October, 1943, the third ranking man in his outfit. |
Revisions
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, February 24, 1944, Page 27
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester New York, Article Page 30, 29 October 1945.
Ancestry.com research https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/158649359/person/31207…
Removed a duplicate KIA event.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2296 / MACR 2296, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list