Hobert

Birth: Dec. 19, 1921
Bell County
Kentucky, USA
Death: Mar. 14, 1944
Piombino
Provincia di Livorno
Toscana, Italy

Attended Black Star High School, Alva, Harlan County, Kentucky; graduated in 1941.

One of 45 enrolled in the freshman class in 1937 and was elected Secretary of the class; was a reporter for the school paper for the December 1937 issue; and played the Chancellor in the school production of "The Knave of Hearts".

As a sophomore, played football, position "HB", on the 1938 team.

Upon graduation from high school, he worked on the L&N Railroad before the war.

For the war effort he heeded the call of his country and trained at Biloxi, MS as a Radio Operator and then on the Florida for gunnery school as a tail gunner in the B-25s.

Lost at sea off the coast of Italy during WW II. Eighteen B-25s, each loaded with six-500 pound bombs, were to bomb the Italian port of Piombino. They were escorted by 19 Spitfire fighters. His was one of the first planes to go down and his body was never recovered.

George B Underwood was on the same Mission the day that Hobert was shot-down and KIA 14 March, 1944

Wright, Hobert O., Sgt, radio-gunner (15114878)(per WWII mem)(708 Glochester Ave, Middlesboro KY)(in WWII mem)(NARA - 15114878 WRIGHT#HOBERT#O# KY BELL FT THOMAS NEWPORT KY 42 1921)

Princessbarbi_B25@msn.com Barbi Ennis Connolly

WWII and 57th BW Historical Researcher - Placed 22 August, 2015

Hobert O Wright