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searching for info on Henry Hepfner

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trannybrad
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searching for info on Henry Hepfner

My cousin Henry Hepfner was stationed on Tinian for some duration of WWII and I cannot find any information about him. I do not know what he was aside from a corporal. I do know that something happened to him and he did not return from the war. Does anybody out there recognize the name or could you ask any of the vets out there if they knew of him? He was with the 58th Bomb wing/468th bomber/792nd squadron.
Also, on his marker at Punchbowl on Oahu are the abbreviations, "G.P. (VH)". Does anyone know what that stands for?

Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.
Brad Hepfner
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    Scott Burris
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    RE: searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    (VH) stands for "Very Heavy." G.P. is probably "Group," as in the 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Very heavy refers to the capability of the B-29 Superfortress which was a four engine bomber with a large bomb tonnage capacity. That's compared to the Heavy bombers like B-17s or B-24s, or a Medium bomber like the B-25, or the Light attack bombers.

    You need to write and request his records from the various government archives. Read our Research page for all the details and addresses you'll need: http://www.armyairforces.com/help.asp

    Best of luck,
    post edited by Scott Burris -

    Scott Burris, 381st BGMA 
    ArmyAirForces.com
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    Guest
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    RE: searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    Brad,

    Not knowing the full inscription on the headsone, unless there is a number preceeding the "G.P. (VH)" I wouldn't suspect the the inscription to refer to a unit. If it was a unit inscription it would look something like 44th GP (VH) <-- no periods in the GP portion, e.g 44th Group (Very Heavy).

    Having said that, I'd suspect the inscription to be related to the Veterans Administration.

    If that's correct, you might want to contact the Veteran's Administratio's VA HEADSTONE AND GRAVEMARKER PROGRAM at 1-800-697-6947. Cmt: I couldn't locate an e-mail address.

    Andy Revie

    "It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood"

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    trannybrad
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    RE: searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    Thanks Andy.

    I have a picture of the entire inscription. I will double check it and put a response on here.

    Brad
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    468thPearce
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    Re:searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    Hello,  My Uncle William Herbert Pearce was in the same group, when his plane went down 7-13-1945, but I have not come across your Henry Hepfner in the list of crew members on Uncle William's plane, where the pilot was Irwin Stavin, fyi.
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    Group Burials
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    Re:searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    I show a Cpl Henry Hepfner serving with the 792 BS, 468 BG, 58BW, 20 AF, West Field, Tinian and was lost on 5/26/1945 on a mission to Tokyo; Missing Air Crew Report: 14518; Aircraft Type: B-29-25-BA; Aircraft Name: Superfortress; Aircraft Tail #: 42-63536; Aircraft Nickname: Mammy Yokum. All members of the crew were never recovered and they are listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu with the exception of the Right Waist Gunner who is on the Tablets at Manila, Philippines ? Why I don't know.
     
    Randy
    Johnson, James H Capt Pilot Brogdon, Henry G Jr TSgt Left Waist Gunner Kent, Francis T Sgt Tail Gunner Hepfner, Henry Cpl Radio Operator Lurie, Donald M 1Lt Bombardier Bollerud, Howard 1Lt Navigator Noelle, Arthur F MSgt Flight Engineer Inman, Grover A Sgt Radio Operator Holst, Harold D 1Lt Co-Pilot Pastick, Richard D Sgt CFC Gunner Locklar, Homer B Sgt Right Waist Gunner
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    shootski
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    Re:searching for info on Henry Hepfner (permalink)
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    And a photo...coutesty of Dr. Yates C. Smith and the New England Air Museum.
    I know the son of one of the men who died in Mammy Yokum's disappearance.

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