Everett A. Hurd

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Army

Everett A. Hurd of Duluth, Minnesota, was inducted into the Army Air Corps Reserve on April 29, 1941. He was assigned to the Weather Bureau.

He was an Aviation cadet, Univ. Chicago and an instructor in meteorology in 1943. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and served as a meteorologist with the Second Weather Squadron and Base Weather Officer at Camp Springs AAF, DC in 1943.

He was the Commanding officer at Detachment Y of the 21st Weather Squadron in May 1944, for Operation Overlord (Normandy Invasion).

He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, with 20 men, five waterproofed vehicles -- first mobile weather station to cross the Channel in support of fighter operations.

He was at Airstrip A1 just beyond beach near Grandcamp les Baines. June 10 to July 15, 1944, (362 Fighter Group, P-47 aircraft). Later he was at airstrips A49, A70 in France and Y29 near Genk, Belgium with the 391st Fighter Squadron.

He was under air attack and nearly overrun by German counter-attack during Battle of Bulge. He was at Chantilly airstrip, April-May, 1945 with the 366 Fighter Group. He was at Heidelberg, Germany until June, 1945.

Mr. Hurd was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge, Personal Letter of Commendation, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with five bronze battle stars for air offensive Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe.

Returned to continental United States aboard a B-24 Liberator bomber, via Dakar, North Africa, to Savannah, Ga.

Separated as 1st Lieutenant November 11, 1946 at Fort George G. Meade, Md.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 120.