 |
| AOMM3c Leo Hoff was a PBY-5 crewman in Alaska. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75172373/leo-ainsley-hoff |
Leo Ainsley Hoff never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
Leo was born on May 30, 1920 in Swift, Minnesota. His father Erik was born in Minnesota to Norwegian immigrants and his mother Mamie was born in Montana to immigrants from Sweden. Erik was a farmer. Leo had three older sisters. Leo’s mother died before he was one year old, and his father died when he was three years old. Leo and his sisters then lived with an uncle in Sauk Center, Minnesota. By 1940, Leo had completed four years of high school and was working on his uncle’s farm.
Some time later Leo joined the US Naval Reserve, and eventually was assigned to Fleet Air Wing #4, based in the Aleutian Islands, where he served as an Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd class (AOM3c). The wing flew PBY-5A Catalina seaplanes and was responsible for patrolling the North Pacific on reconnaissance and bombing missions over the Japanese held Islands of Paramushiro and Shimushu, northernmost of the Kuril Islands. The patrols were long and uncomfortable due to the inhospitable weather experienced in the Aleutians. Even though the aircrews were dressed in warm, fleece-lined leather flight jackets, pants, gloves, and boots, everyone returned from missions half frozen.
On 17 January 1944 AOM3c Hoff was one of the crew aboard a PBY-5A preparing for departure from the base at Attu in the Aleutian Islands. The pilot had difficulty starting the aircraft’s port engine, but eventually got it running. The aircraft taxied out into Massacre Bay and took off. About 90 seconds later the aircraft crashed into the bay and exploded, killing all nine crewmembers aboard.
Leo Ainsley Hoff is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
This is one of the final 100 stories (96) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75 anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.
Last year on this date I profiled Navy Cross hero Donald Lasco of the 1st Marine Division. You can read about Donald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by
The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation
“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”
No comments:
Post a Comment