USAAF AN-H-15 flight helmet named H.A.Howard T-125843 P51D pilot KIA 31 December 1944

This is a interesting USAAF flight cap named to Hugh Asher Howard Jr. He served as a P-51D pilot in the US Airforce during world war two. He had the rank of Flight Officer. According to the WWII Enlistment database he had Japanese roots. He died on 31st of Decemeber 1944 as a pilot around 09:50 German time flying his P-51D 44-13759 within the 352nd Fighter Group squadron after nearly two years of service. His unit was nicknamed the Lonesome Polecat group; 352 FG squadron, 328 Fighter squadron command of the 8th Airforce. This unit was moved to the United Kingdom in July 1943 where it was assigned to the 8th Airforce. It was mostly used for bomber escort missons, counter-air patrols, attacks on airfields, trains, vehicles, troops, gun positions, and other targets. In April 1944 they switched from P-47 Thunderbolts to P-51 Mustang aircraft.

During the Invasion of Normandy the 352FG participated strafing and bombing beaches, positions and dive-bombed enemy communication hubs. In July 1944 it supported the allied breaktrough in St. Lo and in September 1944 saw action during Market Garden. During the Battle of the Bulge a section was moved to Asch Airfield, Belgium under the 9th Airforce.

For sure a interesting USAAF flight helmet with a good base for further research!

31 Dec 1944 • Ostend, Germany

Missing Air Crew Report (MACR): 11456 Date: 12/31/1944 Aircraft Type: P-51D Aircraft Number: 44-13759 Nickname: Lonesome Polecat Group: 352nd Fighter Group squadron: 328FS Command: 8AF Location: Ostend-4mi S Country: GER Time: 0950 Pilot: Hugh Howard KIA