Sunday, January 29, 2017

WW2 Fallen - Mosquito navigator Milford Hopkins

Lt. Hopkins was navigator on this type of plane used by the 653rd Bomb Squadron for weather recon.
http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/424493-USAAF-Mosquito-MkXVI-Photo-Recon-Pack-Forums

Milford B. Hopkins could have been 100 years old today. 

He was born on January 29, 1917 in Oklahoma. His mother was also born in Oklahoma. His Texas born father was an oil driller. By 1930 his mother was a widow working as a seamstress for a dry goods store. Milford had one older brother.

Milford completed college and was working as a teacher by 1940 and was supporting his mother who had retired. He had married Vera Ellen Kilpatrick on January 18, 1941.

Milford enlisted in the Army Air Corp on December 2, 1942. He was a 2nd lieutenant navigator flying in deHavilland Mosquitos in the 653rd Bombardment Squadron which had a mission of weather reconnaissance. On November 22, 1944, Lt. Hopkins was killed when a plane engine failed during takeoff in severe weather and crashed in England.

https://www.facebook.com/spitfirepilots/photos/pcb.953289811349131/953289724682473/?type=3&theater

The crashed Mosquito that claimed Lt. Hopkins's life.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/160213

His remains were returned to be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. His widow remarried in 1947 and died in 1997.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3026683&ref=acom

Thank you Milford for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Milford.

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