Hendricks, Laird Woodruff
Personal Information
Rank | 1st Lt. |
Forename(s) | Laird Woodruff |
Surname | Hendricks |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-07-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of Laird Woodruff Hendricks Sr. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Boeing Fortress I |
Serial Number | AN534 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | USA |
Burial/Memorial Place | Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA |
Grave Reference | Sec: 2, Site: E.H 3738 |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 180 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | O-021900 |
Service | United States Army Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 90 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Botolph's Church, Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Brass Plaque and Memorial Display |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Boeing Fortress I AN534, XC Sqn RAF (Polebrook) who died near this place 28th July 1941 |
Location | Roadside location, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of XC Sqn, No 3 Bomb Group flying operations from here with the Mk 1 Stirling Bomber December 1943 until May 1943 |
Location | St. Mary & All the Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Henry Philip Lee Warner AFC DFC. Only Son of Philip Henry & Mary King Lee Warner. Actg S/L RAFVR killed in action over Germany Aug 26th 1944 in his 32nd year |
Location | Village Green, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial atopped with Inscribed Silver Sun-Dial |
Memorial Text | For all those who served their country as part of XC Sqn RAF |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them |
Miscellaneous Information
Born in 1916 in Ocala, Florida and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. After High School, Laird attended a Military Prep School for a year and was subsequently selected for the US Military Academy at West Point. He graduated West Point in 1939 and trained as a pilot in the US Army Air Corp, soon to become the USAAF. In early 1941, the USA offered 20 B-17C Flying Fortress aircraft to the RAF. RAF Crews were initially trained on the aircraft in the USA and then moved to RAF Polebrook in May 1941 to continue trials and crew training with what was to become 90 Sqn. |
Laird was an ‘Advisor’ sent over to help with the ongoing trials and training of the RAF B-17 crews, which was difficult politically for the USA as they were still neutral. Laird was a B-17 pilot. |
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-07-1941 |
End Date | 28-07-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Polebrook |
Day/Night Raid | (15% moon) |
Operation | Training |
Reason for Loss | Crashed about 30 mins after takeoff, near Stoke Albany, east of Market Harborough, following 'a catastrophic in-flight structural failure'. |