Replies

After reading this I can imagine the controversy and arguments that must have carried on throughout the war behind the scenes regarding the concept. You had the vulnerability and the resulting losses (...with an estimated sacrifice of 5,000 Tank Destroyer Men killed in action) while at the same time the job was getting done.

Start with them one at a time....

Sgt. Dwight A. Hieke

(Lt. Col. Charles W. GOODWIN), in September 1944 operating as an organic unit of 113th Cavalry Group (Mechanized).

STATEMENT NUMBER ONE - Sgt. Dwight A. HIEKE was born in Sioux City on 5 March 1918. He joined the army from Nebraska. His name is listed on the 'Tablet of the Missing' at the Henri- Chapelle (Belgium) American Cemetery and Memorial. Coming from the beaches of Normandy, where they had landed almost three months earlier, - on 3 September 1944 803rd TD Bn entered Belgium, a country they had never heard of. On 4 September 1944, "C" Company under the command of Cpt. Robert F. SINCLAIR, a Company of which HIEKE was a member, was attached to 113th Cavalry Group (Mechanized). HIEKE, together with Cpl. Joseph E. KITTO (+ Hasselt), was the only M- 10 Tank Destroyer casualty (WD serial number not available) on 7 September 1944. "Sergeant HIEKE was the commander of the vehicle. The company was moving in convoi with 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Group in an easterly direction towards the town of St. Truiden. The forward elements of the convoy consisting of light tanks had proceeded into the town but when the first M-10' s got within 300 yards, they were placed under fire by a self- propelled enemy 7,5cm (75mm) gun. Two M-10' s were hit and burned. When the enemy gun was silenced and the company prepared, Sergeant HIEKE could not be located. A report from 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, dated 11 June 1945 states that the vehicle was searched and remains were found, however they were completely burned except for four vertebrae, six ribs and other small bone splinters. The bones powdered when touched. No remains were evacuated. The vehicle was removed approximately three weeks after fighting had ceased in that area. It is believed that Sergeant HIEKE was killed in his tank destroyer and his remains completely cremated by fire." (Lt. Col. E. D. MULVANITY, CMC).

STATMENT NUMBER TWO - "Sergeant Dwight A. HIEKE, ASN 37153412, was a commander of a M-10 Tank Destroyer of the 1st platoon of Company "C" 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. The company was moving in convoy with the 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Group in an easterly direction towards the town of St. Truiden, Belgium on 7 September 1944. The forward elements of the convoy consisting in light tanks, M-8' s and 1/ 4 tons ('jeeps') had proceeded into the town, but when the first M-10' s got within 300 yards of the town, they were placed under fire by an enemy self- propelled 7,5cm (75mm) gun. Two M-10' s and three 1/ 4 tons were hit and burned. As soon as the vehicles were hit, disabled personnel scattered in all directions, taking cover. When the enemy gun was silenced and the Company prepared to proceed, Sergeant HIEKE could not be located and has not been seen ever since. The undersigned has made a close inspection of the burned vehicles and found definite signs of someone having burned in one of the tanks. However, there was nothing upon which identity could be established. Some of the members of Sergeant HIEKE' s crew, believe that he got out of the tank, while others state that they do not know. The above is an accumulation of information gathered from interviews with enlisted men and officers of Company "C" and personal investigation of the vehicle." (Richard P. PETERSON, WCJG, USA, Personnel Officer).

STATEMENT NUMBER THREE - "201- HIEKE Dwight A. (Enl.) 2nd Ind. Headquarters, 803rd Tank Destroyer Bn, APO 230, US Army, 11 June 1945, To Commanding General, 5th Infantry Division, APO 5, US Army. No isolated burial was made in this case. and in compliance with paragraph 2b, basic communication, the following information is submitted. (1) Death occurred on main highway leading into St. Truiden, from the west, 300 yards from the first buildings at entrance to town (UTM co- ordinates = 180 491) ; (2) no other enlisted men or officers were killed in that vicinity (except Cpl. Joseph E. KITTO in Hasselt) ; (3) Remains were completely burned except for four vertebrae, six ribs, and other small bone splinters that were burned to the point where they powdered when touched. True statement of the undersigned who made the investigation following the incident, is attached ; (4) No remains evacuated ; (5) Killed in a M-10 Tank Destroyer of which WD serial number is not available ; (6) Following are names of crew members, Sgt. Dwight A. HIEKE, ASN 37153412, Tank Commander, KIA ; Cpl. Jack S. CAMPBELL, ASN 34601579, Gunner Duty ; Tec. 4 Ruben B. GREEN, ASN 37152842, Driver Duty ; Pfc. Justin B. PATTERSON, ASN 3439175, Driver Duty ; Sgt. Dale F. LEACH, ASN 37153406, Loader Duty ; 1st Lt. Keith D. BEVERAGE, ASN 0-1018515, Platoon leader ; All evacuated 7 October 1944 for battle exhaustion. (...)." (For the Commanding Officer, Richard P. PETERSON, CWO, USA, Personnel Officer).

STATEMENT NUMBER FOUR - "Belgium 3 2890, 2nd Ind, AMB / jc, Headquarters 603 QM Graves Registration Company, AGRC, APO 776, US Army, 1st April 1946, To : Commanding Officer 531 Group AGRC, APO 776, US Army, - (1) Basic communication complied with ; (2) Extensive investigation reveals that vehicle containing body of subject deceased was removed of the vicinity of St. Truiden, approximately three weeks after fighting ceased in that area. Apparently the body was never removed from the vehicle before it was evacuated. (3) This unit is unable to ascertain what unit performed the evacuation, nor to where it was taken." (For the Commanding Officer, Alfred H. BENNICK, 2nd Lt. QMC).

-"They shall not grow old as we who are left to grow old. Time will not weary them, nor age condemn. And at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."

To those who gave "their all" the Honor and Glory is theirs.
They heard our country's call. They went forth and counted not their own life dear, but offered it gladly in humanity's name -- for God and for the right.
The greatest war in the history of the world closed August 14, 1945, when the warring nations laid down their arms. The Germans, Japanese, and all their allies lay prostrate, defeated. They who knew no mercy and who had violated every law of humanity and civilization,
THEY BEGGED FOR MERCY. THE VICTORY WAS OURS!
Sgt. Dwight A. Hieke is a part of that history of keeping this nation free.
God Bless America

Air Power
Hawker Hurricane

The Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter produced by Hawker, and was available in substantial numbers at the beginning of World War II. Hurricanes played a decisive role in the Battle of Britain and went on to fly on more fronts than any other British fighter. Canadian Car and Foundry manufactured 1 451 Hurricanes between 1938 and 1943. With increasingly heavy armament, Hurricanes served to the end of the war. Hurricanes were used in Canada for training and coastal patrols.

Hurricanes equipped 26 RAF squadrons at the beginning of the Battle of Britain and shot down more enemy aircraft than all other defences combined. The RCAF received its first Hurricanes in August 1939, including those flown by Number 1 Squadron RCAF in the Battle of Britain. Later in the war, Sea Hurricanes were launched by catapult from ships at sea to defend convoys against air attack. A "tank buster" version with 40mm cannon was used in North Africa.

The Hurricane was designed to Air Ministry Specification F.36/34, the prototype making it's first flight on November 6th, 1935. Put into production in 1936, the first production Hurricane I flew in October, 1937.

Although it was no longer in production when the war ended the Hurricane was still in service as a first-line aircraft. It served on seventeen battle fronts - in the British Isles, France, Norway, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, The Middle East, The Far East, Russia, in the Battles of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Northern Convoys, to mention the most important - as a fighter, fighter-bomber, an R.P. fighter, a "tank buster", a catapault fighter, and a carrier fighter. In 1944-45, equipped with rocket projectiles (R.P.), the Hurricane was used with great effect against enemy shipping in the Adriatic, and as a fighter-bomber it served with distinction in Burma.

Well over 14,000 Hurricanes were built, the last one being delivered from the Hawker factory in September, 1944.

Hurricane Mk I
Rolls-Royce Merlin II or Merlin III engine. Armament consisted of eight .303-in Browning machine guns, four in each wing. Originally had fabric covered wings, two blade wood fixed-pitch airscrew and was without armour or self-sealing tanks. In 1939 the Mk. I was fitted with either the D.H. or Rotol constant-speed airscrew, ejector exhaust stacks, metal covered wings, armour, etc. In the Battle Of Britian the Hurricane Mk. I accounted for more enemy aircraft than any other type of aircraft and altogether in the first year of the war Hurricane squadrons accounted for more than 1,500 confirmed victories over the Luftwaffe, almost half the total of enemy aircraft destroyed by the RAF in that period. In 1940 the Mk. I was fitted with air cleaner and desert equipment for service in the Middle East.

Hurricane Mk. II
Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine with two-speed supercharger. Except for slight alterations to the wings to cater for increased armament, a new engine mounting for the longer engine and strengthening of the fuselage and landing-gear to take care of the increased power and weight, no other structural changes were necessary.

Hurricane Mk. IV On 14 March 1943 a modified Mk II KX045 flew in the guise of the prototype IV. Powered by a Merlin 24 producing 1650hp the new version was externally very similar to the Mark II with the exception of the heavily armoured radiator bath, which now had an angular appearance. An additional 350lb of steel plate had been added to this version in response to increasingly accurate and lethal anti aircraft fire being experienced on all fronts. The Mk IV wing was designed from the outset to accept the 20mm cannon, 40mm anti tank guns, drop tanks, bombs and the 3-inch rocket projectile. The operational debut of the Mk IV took place on the 2 September 1943 when No 137 Sqn attacked lock gates in Holland. The escort was provided by Hawker Typhoons, which would gradually replace the Hurricane in the ground attack role. By mid 1944 the Hurricane Mk IV was withdrawn completely from the European theatre, but continued to give excellent service in the Far East where six squadrons were so equipped.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Hawker
Primary Role: Fighter
Power plant: One Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin XX V-engine with 1,280 HP
First flight Prototype: 6.11.1936
Date deployed: October 1937
Number built: 12,870 (+ 1,451 in Canada)

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 40 ft 12.2 m
Length: 32 ft 3 in 9.8 m
Height: 13 ft 1 1/2 in 4 m
Weights: empty 4,982 lb 2,259 kg / max. 6,665 lb 3,023 kg

Performance:
Speed cruising: 206 mph / max. 348 mph
Initial: climb rate 2,707 ft/min
Ceiling: 34,000 ft
Range: 460 mi

Armaments:
Eight .303 machine guns (12 m.g. Hurricane IIb) or Four 40mm cannons;
up to 226 kg in bombs