John Darvin Howard

Military

Object Number - UPL 16507 - John Darvin Howard

Flew missions to France in September 1944 hauling gasoline to Patton's troops. Flew 30 combat missions, the last ten as navigator on a lead crew.

Air Medal w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster/ ETO Ribbon w/ 4 Battle Stars

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Walter M Bowen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-710552
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur J Dyson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

William Earle Hendrix

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-678046
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Robert W Svobodny

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-95592

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Black Cat
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron

Missions

681

  • Date: 17 October 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Biardstown, TX 75462, USA 9 July 1922

Died

Dallas, TX, USA 16 February 2014 John Darvin Howard of Dallas, Texas passed away on February 16, 2014 at the age of 91. He was born on July 9, 1922 in Bairdstown, Texas to Nita Kennemer and Gaither Artis Howard. John grew up in Lamar County in east Texas and graduated from Paris Junior College. After graduation, he went to work for the Paris News until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a navigator on "The Black Cat", a B-24 bomber, and flew 30 missions out of Attlebridge, England with the 8th Air Force. His crew also flew three gasoline delivery missions to support General Patton's troops in France. At the end of WWII, John returned to Texas where he attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated as a petroleum engineer. He met and married his bride of 65 years, Norma Jeanne Kelley, while he was at the University. John went on to work for Mobil Oil Corporation where he retired with 35 years of service in 1984. John and Norma lived in several small Texas towns, Oklahoma City, Denver, Dallas and Midland before moving to Houston for his last assignment at Mobil. After retirement in Houston, John spent many happy hours on the golf course and traveling to the Cayman Islands with his friends and family. John and Norma moved to Dallas two years ago to be near their children. John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Melba Howard, his brother Travis Howard, and his grandson Darren Tremblay. John is survived by his wife, one son J. Kelley Howard and wife, Susan of Plano, Texas; one daughter, Gayle Tremblay and husband, Roger of Dallas, Texas; two brothers, Kenneth Howard and wife Sue of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Edgar Howard and wife Dee of Houston, Texas; one brother-in-law Willam H. Kelley and wife Barbara of Seguin, Texas; two granddaughters, Anna Dvorak and husband Asad Kirmani of Austin, Texas, and Sarah Cordett of Orange, California; one grandson, Jeff Howard of Plano, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Will and Zoe Cordett both of Orange, California and several nieces and nephews.

Buried

Lockhart, TX 78644, USA 20 February 2014 Lockhart Municipal Burial Park Lockhart Caldwell County Texas, USA Plot: N
Paris, TX, USA Route #4

Revisions

Date30 Sep 2016 02:48:06
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date18 Jun 2015 03:53:20
ContributorKenneth Howard
Sources

From crew photo

Date14 Jun 2015 21:35:14
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date31 May 2015 22:16:17
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date11 May 2015 02:11:19
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date27 Sep 2014 18:15:50
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self & Page 300 in the book THE SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition, D790.A2S45

John Darvin Howard: Gallery (7 items)

Object number: UPL 15920 - Crew #668 Robert W. Svobodny Crew/A.J. Dyson Crew...

Object number: UPL 16192 - Crew #673/491 William E. Hendrix Crew 466th BG -...

Object number: UPL 16462 - Crew #668 Walter M. Bowen Crew 466th BG - 786th BS...

Object number: UPL 16507 - John Darvin Howard

Object number: UPL 36374 - 1LT's Arthur J. Dyson (CP), Daniel J. McDermott (B...

Object number: UPL 36375 - 1LT's Daniel McDermott (B) and John D. Howard (N)...

Object number: UPL 36376 - 1LT's John D. Howard (N) and Robert W. Svobodny (P...