F/O Howard Hugh Asher Jr KIA december 31 1944 near Ostend Belgium

[Alain57]

Hi ,

On december 31 1944 F/O Howard Hugh Asher Jr flying P-51 44-13795 from the 352FG/328FS crasht during a transfer flight from Bodney UK to Y-29 As in Belgium 4 miles south of Ostend.
Is there someone who knows were F/O was buried before he was repatriated to the States?

Greets
Alain57

[Leendert]

Alain,

Please note F/O Hugh A. Howard Jr. flew in 44-13759.

He's mentioned in this clipping (lower left side): https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1021...o-be-returned/

Groet,
Leendert

[Alain57]

Thanks Leendert

Alain57

[Leendert]

Interestingly ASR No. 277 Squadron (Walrus, RAF) was sent out in search of a missing a/c in the morning of 31 Dec 1944, although further in the Channel.
Position Ostend was 'last seen position'.
ASR No. 276 Squadron (Walrus/Spitfire, at Knokke-Zoute) saw a raft and long range tanks 'off Ostend' on 1 Jan 1945, but 'nothing else to report'.

Groet,
Leendert

[Alain57]

Thanks Leendert

Alain57

[dp_burke]

The Rosters of WW2 dead from the U S QMC on ancestry mention a cemetery code of 1260 against F/O Howard.

Which is per
https://www.7tharmddiv.org › ...DOC
Cemetery Codes - 7th Armored Division
Thus code 1260 = Neuville-En-Cordrez Cemetery, Liege, Belgium

I would therefore take it that he was buried there initially. Or, his remains were concentrated there at some time prior to being returned home. His IDPF would contain the actual detail.

[Alain57]

Goodevening Dennis ,

So we can assume that F/O Howard Hugh Asher Jr initially was buried at neupré Belgium ?

Greetings
Alain57

[Leendert]

Alain,

Neupré served as a temporary site starting 8 Feb 1945, also as an identification point for those fallen soldiers brought there from several temporary cemeteries across the ETO.

It is so that the remains of F/O Howard went from Neupré to Kentucky, but this does not mean it was his first burial place.

Unfortunately the online Weekly Burial Reports in the National Archives Catalog seem to run to 17 December 1944 (Report No. 115) only.

As Dennis wrote, the IDPF of F/O Howard may give more details.

Groet,
Leendert