In Memory Of
Army Air Force 2nd Lt.
Howard C. Long
Viborg, South Dakota
Turner County
October 21, 1923 - December 17, 1944
Killed in Action over Hungary

Howard Chris Long was born on October 21, 1923, on his parents’ farm in Spring Valley Township, Viborg, South Dakota. His parents were Harry C. and Dagmar (Jepson) Long. He had one brother, Dallas Long. Howard attended Rural Rose Grove School District #40. He liked playing baseball and was always interested in airplanes. He read about them, built models, and his goal was to become a pilot. Howard played basketball in high school and then graduated from Viborg High School in 1941.

After high school, Howard Long went for a pre-service physical, but the doctor told him he had a "heart tick" and would not be able to go into the service. He wanted to go so bad he laid and rested for 6 weeks before his next physical so his heart was rested and he could join the service. He passed his physical and enlisted for the duration of the war plus 6 months in the Army Air Force at age 19 on November 27, 1942. He left for the war the following February. After Howard joined the service, he became religious. He talked about prayers, and had a small Bible he carried around with him. He had written in it that if any thing should happen to him, the Bible should go to his brother, Dallas. Dallas has it now. He trained first at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri, and then went to Cole College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He then went to Santa Anna, California, and finally to Hondo Field near San Antonio, Texas where he got his wings and became an officer.

Howard was the navigator on a B-24 in the 15th Air Force, 824 Bomb Squadron, 484 Bomb Group. When his squadron flew from the United States to Europe, Lt. Howard C. Long was the lead navigator. His plane led 20 planes over to Europe. On the way over they had to land at the Azores to refuel. Howard said, "The Azores should be right below us." The crew looked out and there they were. They landed, refueled, and continued on to Italy. Howard Long went out with many different crews and planes. He flew on a B-24 nicknamed "I’ll Be Seeing You." A letter from Army Air Force Headquarters in Washington, DC, said that Lieutenant Long was a navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber nicknamed "Little Joe" which departed from Italy on a combat mission to bomb an oil refinery at Odertal, Germany on December 17, 1944. Approaching the target, the formation was hit by fighters, Focke Wulfs, and ME 109’s. The bomber Howard was in was last sighted about 12:50 PM, south of Szombathely, Hungary. After four months overseas, Howard was killed when his damaged plane crashed near Sternberg, Czechoslovakia. His parents received word of his crash through a telegram on Dec. 24, 1944. Another telegram was received on Jan. 3, 1945. It stated in part:

The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son Second Lieutenant Howard C. Long has been reported missing in action since the Seventeenth December over Hungary If further details or other information are received you will be promptly notified.

A farmer found six bodies and buried them. After the war he told officials, and the US retrieved the remains, which were returned to the United States. Howard Long and four other crewmen are now buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Howard received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, and various other medals.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Andrew Dorfschmidt, 9th Grade Voyagers, Horizon Middle School, Bismarck, North Dakota April 16, 2002. Information for this entry was provided by Dallas Long, Viborg, South Dakota, brother of Second Lieutenant Howard C. Long.