SGT Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman

Familial History

SGT Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman was born 18 September 1924 to Katie Bell Burch and Ferdinand Butler “Ferd” Hindman in Graves County, Kentucky. He died 13 January 1945 when his plane crashed in Germany. He lived in Pima County, Arizona before the war.

Katie Bell Burch was born 1 May 1886 in Lake County, Tennessee to John Burch. She died 19 December 1942 in Obion County, Tennessee. Prior to Ferd, she had married Romie Turner 18 August 1905 in Union City, Obion County, Tennessee. Their union produced one daughter, Effie Lillian.

Ferdinand Butler “Ferd” Hindman was born 7 November 1861 in Hickman, Fulton County, Kentucky to Ruth “Lillie” Campbell and Matthew “Mack” Hindman. He died 10 December 1938 in Hickman, Fulton County, Kentucky. He had married Tirzah Boyd Howard and they had 3 daughters Quintina Belle; Clara “Clarissa”; and Lilian Katrina “Kay”.

Half-sisters Quintina Belle Hindman Bates (5 September 1883-16 May 1942); Clara “Clarissa” Hindman Davis (13 November 1885-19 September 1984); Lilian Katrina “Kay” Hindman Frith (26 May 1891-28 November 1952); and Effie Lillian Turner Boaz (10 June 1907-19 January 2001); Brother William Mack Hindman (19 July 1914-21 February 1980); Sisters Elnora Motelle Hindman Halliday (9 November 1917-20 April 2003); Margaret “Peggy” Louise Moore (2 July 1921-26 June 2002); and Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman.

William Mack Hindman was a US Army veteran of World War II.

Service History:

SGT Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman registered for the draft 18 December 1942 in Union City, Obion County, Tennessee. He was working as a farm hand and his height was 5’9” and his weight was 134 pounds. His sister, Mrs. Lillian Boaz signed as the next of kin.

He enlisted in the US Army 27 March 1943 in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia as a private. He had completed grammar school and was living in Pima County, Arizona.

He was assigned to the 427th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy. His Service Number was 34727889 and his specialty was “Airplane Mechanic-Top Turret Gunner, Flight Engineer”.

The 303rd was nicknamed “Hell’s Angels” and were activated 3 February 1942 in Pendleton Field, Oregon. On 11 February 1942, they assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho and conducted training until 12 June 1942. Advanced training was conducted at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico until 7 August 1942, then they were ordered to Biggs Field, Texas. The air echelon flew to Kellogg Field, Michigan, next to Dow Field, Maine, and then were deployed to REF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, England. It was also known as USAAF Station 107. They flew their first combat mission on 17 November 1942.

He participated in two missions prior to the fatal flight to Germersheim. He was part of the B-17G #43-38689 crew that were hit by flak in the tail section and crashed near Roxheim. US World War II Hospital Admission Card stated he was killed in action. The Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) was # 11574.

The crew members of B-17G #43-38689 were:

Tail Gunner SGT Conaway, Therman 38603844 Arkansas

Pilot 2LT Eisenhart, Oliver Thomas O-2058926 New York

Navigator 2LT Herrick, Maurice R. O-2069017 Michigan

TT Gunner SGT Hindman, Samuel Max 34727889 Arizona

Bombardier F/O Joyce, Herring Jr. T-131600 Missouri

Radio Op SSGT Kauffman, Bernard 13125275 Pennsylvania

Co-Pilot 2LT McCullough, Henry W. O-827881 New Jersey

Waist Gun SGT Thompson, Jack Jr. 18160589 Oklahoma

SGT Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman was interred into the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial located in St. Avoid, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. The Plot was B, Row 18, Grave 57 and his Memorial # 56646260. His brother William Mack Hindman signed his Headstone Request.

Commendations:

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, SGT Samuel Max “Sam” Hindman of the US Army Air Corps, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum and the email is jchisum@q.com.

Resources:

Samuel M Hindman : Sergeant from Arizona, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

Hindman, Sanuel M., Sgt: PERSON, pictures and information - Fold3.com

Samuel M Hindman | American Air Museum in Britain

303rd Bomb Group | American Air Museum in Britain

427th Bomb Squadron | American Air Museum in Britain

Sgt Samuel Max Hindman (unknown-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial

Hindman, Sanuel M., Sgt | TWS (togetherweserved.com)

SGT Samuel M. Hindman (militaryhallofhonor.com)

Samuel M Hindman 1924-1945 - Ancestry®

RAF Molesworth - Wikipedia

RAF Molesworth | Military Wiki | Fandom