FIGHTER KILLED IN COMBAT AREA
Lt. Lester Hovden Was With Mustang Command
Ridgeway --Mr. and Mrs. Helmer J. Hovden received word from the war department, that their son, Lt. Lester Hovden, was killed in action over France Aug. 10. About a month ago they received word that he was missing in action on a bombing mission over France Aug 10.
Lt. Hovden was 22 years old. He enlisted in the army air corps and entered the serviced on March 26, 1943. He received his training at Foster Field and Randolph Field, Tex., earned his wings and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant Jan, 4, 1944. Since joining the 8th fighter command in England he has been a combat pilot with Col. Avelin P. Tascon's Mustang fighter group.
Lt. Hovden was born near Ridgeway and was graduated from Ridgeway high school. He is survived by his parents, 3 sisters, Orabell and Joan at home and Joyce, cadet nurse at Minneapolis, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Hovden, of Decorah and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Simmonson of Ridgeway.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, September 26, 1944 (photo included)
PLAN MEMORIAL FOR HERO PILOT
Lt. Hovden, Ridgeway, Honored at Services
Ridgeway --Memorial services will be held for Lt. Lester Hovden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Helmer J. Hovden at the Madison Lutheran church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon, with the Rev. M.B. Quill officiating. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion will take part..
Lt. Hovden, a Mustang fighter pilot, was killed in action in a bombing mission over France Aug. 10. His parents were notified first that he was missing. He was 22 years old and a graduate of Ridgeway high school.
He is survived by his parents, 3 sisters, Orabell and Joan at home and Joyce, cadet nurse at Minneapolis, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Hovden, of Decorah and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Simmonson of Ridgeway.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 12, 1944
Rites Set For Combat Pilot
Ridgeway Man Served With Mustant Outfit
Ridgeway --Funeral services for Lt. Lester Hovden will be held Sunday at 1:30 at the Hovden home in Madison township and at the Madison Lutheran church at 2 p.m. The Rev. M.B. Quill will officiate and the burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. Military honors will be in charge of V.F.W. post No. 1977.
Hoyden was killed in France on Aug. 10, 1944. As a member of the air force, he was a combat pilot, flying a P-51 in Colonel Takin's mustang fighters.
He was born May 16, 1922, son of Mr. and Mrs. Helmer J. Hovden.
Surviving are his parents, 3 sisters, Mrs. Harry Halverson, Decorah; Joann at home and Joyce, Madison, Wis., and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Hovden, of Decorah and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Simmonson of Ridgeway.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, November 6, 1948
Lester Wayne Hovden was born May 16, 1922 to Helmer J. and Celia Simonson Hovden. He died Aug. 10, 1944 and is buried in Madison Cemetery, Winneshiek Co., IA.
Lt. Hovden served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps and was KIA.
Source: ancestry.com
