Leroy Victor Hokinson Jr

Military
media-19574.jpeg UPL 19574 2nd Lt Leroy V. Hokinson Jr

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 19574 - 2nd Lt Leroy V. Hokinson Jr

Leroy Hokinson was a Pilot in the 55thFighter Group/38th Fighter Squadron. Flying his 6th mission on a fighter sweep to Venlo and Arnhem, The Netherlands on 31 January 1944 in P-38 Lightning Serial 42-67813, he was shot down by an enemy FW190 fighter. With his left engine on fire, he bailed out at about 2000 ft and managed to evade capture by the Germans through the help of Dutch and Belgian patriots. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 2017. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1938.

Leroy reported later that after the initial fight near Venlo he and his element leader, 1st Lt Morris Leve, had become separated from the main formation and set course for base at low level. Near Eindhoven, they were intercepted by a whole squadron of Me109s. Outnumbered, Hokinson and Leve flew tight defensive orbits but a diving pass by an enemy fighter ignited Lt Leve's P-38 and this went down in flames (Lt Leve was Killed in Action - KIA). Hokinson broke his turn and went after the Me109 concerned, firing until he believed it crashed. Another German fighter attacked him head-on and both aircraft hit each other in the exchange of fire. It was later confirmed that the Me109 crash-landed. Hokinson managed to evade (see his page at www.evasioncomete.be >>> Fiches >>> alphabetical list.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-791127
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

East Moline, Illinois, United States 27 August 1921 the son of Leroy V. and Mae Hokinson

Other

Evaded

Belgium 31 January 1944 - 9 September 1944 Hokinson landed in the Noord-Brabant Province in the Netherlands and with the help of Dutch Resistance, was led to Belgium where he was taken in charge by the Belgian COMET evasion network. Ultimately hidden is a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes, he was liberated by advancing US troops.

Other

Shot down

Eindhoven, The Netherlands 31 January 1944 Crashed near Eindhoven on a fighter sweep of the area after being attacked by 20-30 enemy fighters in P-38J 42-67813. Killed in Action (KIA).

Died

Helendale, California, United States 17 August 2005
East Moline, Illinois, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated link to the page at www.evasioncomete.be

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated link to the page at www.evasioncomete.be

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list;
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- MACR 2107

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2107
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1938
http://www.station131.co.uk
Research for his page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/fhokinslv.html

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Duplicate entry

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 2107 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Leroy Victor Hokinson: Gallery (1 items)