Raymond Hilgenberg

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-26565.jpeg UPL 26565 Lt. Raymond Hilgenberg from Chicago, IL. flew with the 351st Fighter Squadron/353rd Fighter Group from Oct. 28, 1944 until Feb. 24,1945. Hilgenberg flew a P-51D named "Mr. Gary" when shot down on February 24, 1945 he was KIA. The aircraft was the regular plane of Capt. Gene E. Markham, named after his young son. Billy J Murray collection

From the personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

Object Number - UPL 26565 - Lt. Raymond Hilgenberg from Chicago, IL. flew with the 351st Fighter Squadron/353rd Fighter Group from Oct. 28, 1944 until Feb. 24,1945. Hilgenberg...

Killed in Action (KIA) on Feb, 24, 1945 near Vaassen in a replacement plane P-51 'Mr. Gary' #4414949, due to a ground loop which occurred three days prior. Three days earlier he had a similar incident that was as he was hit by AA fire while strafing in Germany. He made it to France and safely crash-landed with the left landing gear wheel inoperable and a shot up left wing. He skidded off the runway but walked away unhurt. This aircraft was the Assigned #44-11565 P-51K YJ-X which was the personal aircraft for 1Lt. Hilgenberg. The a/c's first combat mission was with Lt. Hilgenberg on Dec. 10th, 1944. He flew 23 missions in this aircraft. He christened it "Sunshine" after his nickname Ray Of Sunshine! 1Lt Hilgenberg was sadly KIA on his 40th mission. He came from Chicago in a family of nine siblings, three of whom served during WWII in addition to himself.

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron 504th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14188861 /O-827353
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot with the 353rd , 351st fighter squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16136319 / T-62611 / O-2000298
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11025538 / O-758938
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 356th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 351st Fighter Squadron 359th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron Headquarters (353rd Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-416268
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11055939 / O-800470
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Sunshine
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron 352nd Fighter Squadron
Raymond Hilgenberg
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 24 February 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

24 February 1945

Born

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Hollland 24 February 1945

Other

Promoted

Revisions

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Robert Hilgenberg nephew

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Robert Hilgenberg nephew.

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From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

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From the personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

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From the personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12622 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Raymond Hilgenberg: Gallery (3 items)