Hugh Wallace Douglas was born in 1920 in Tennessee, the son of Floyd O Douglas and Anna Eliza Burnett. He enlisted on September 16, 1940, in Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA
Memorialized at Manila American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
Aircraft B-25C was on a combat raid against enemy installations in the vicinity of Lao Airdrome, New Guinea. As the plane approached the target area, it was attacked by several Zero fighters. Though outnumbered more than four to one, Lt Hesselbarth dropped the bombs on the target and then engaged the enemy aircraft until his plane was destroyed. The aircraft was losing altitude with engines in flames.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt John E. Hesselbarth
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Joseph W. Ferguson
T/Sgt Ivan M. Wright
Cpl George E. Thigpin
Cpl Hugh W. Douglas
Cpl Albert H. Smith
Having actually gone “Missing” on 25 May 1942, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until November 18, 1945.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 8, 1942
Corp. Hugh Wallace Douglas, 22, son of Floyd O. Wallace, of Riverdale, is named as “missing in action” on an official list released today by the War Department. The list covers the Far Eastern theater including Australia and the South Pacific. Corporal Douglas, 22, was an air corps radio operator.
A graduate of Carter High where he played football, the Riverdale man volunteered in September, 1940. He sailed March 1 for the Pacific front. Last message from Corporal Douglas was a letter to a girl friend in Lincoln, Neb., which arrived May 23. He had received training at Stations at Lincoln and at Savannah, Ga. Before publication of the list, the War Department had notified the family that the young man was missing.
Hugh Douglas grew up on the family farm at Stoney Point near Riverdale, and worked the farm with his father and brothers before enlistment. He was a strapping fellow. Besides the father, there are three brothers, Cline, Winfred and Floyd Douglas Jr., and a sister, Mrs. Charles Styles, all of the Riverdale vicinity. Mrs. W.E. Douglas, of South Knoxville Route 9 is an aunt.
- Rank: Corporal
- Date of death: 18 November 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 90th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Steven Stiles
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