Private Justin Clark Hamblin died on 3rd October 1942 when a B-17 bomber crashed on Slieveanorra Mountain, Co. Antrim killing 8 of the crew members onboard.
Private
39083731
Private Justin Clark Hamblin (39083731) served in 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group (The Ragged Irregulars), 8th United States Army Air Force during the Second World War. Born on 25th August 1918, he was the son of Ren Gilbert and Lois Gilbert (née Malone) of Hanford, King’s County, California, U.S.A.
Justin graduated from Hanford Union High School in 1937 and worked in his hometown before enlisting in October 1941. He trained at a number of airfields including Keesler Field, Mississippi, U.S.A., Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.A., Tyndale Field, Florida, U.S.A., and Bangor, Maine, U.S.A.
Hamblin died on 3rd October 1942 while an engineer on B-17 #41-24451. The plane crashed in bad weather on Mount Slieveanorra, Co. Antrim en route from Gander Bay, Newfoundland to the United Kingdom killing 8 of the 10 crew and passengers. Some reports suggest the plane was bound for Prestwick, Scotland while others state the destination as R.A.F. Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
Burial first took place on 7th October 1942 at Glenalina Extension, ES, 236 of Belfast City Cemetery. A reburial later took place at Lisnabreeny American Military Cemetery, Belfast. After the war, Hamblin was repatriated to Plot F, Row 6, Grave 43 of Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, England.