Honor your hero with thoughts, memories, images and stories.
FORT JACKSON, SC (WIS) - The remains of a World War II veteran who died more than 70 years ago have found their final resting place in Fort Jackson National Cemetery.
Lt. William Harth Jr., of Columbia, was 22 years old in the summer of 1943 when he was assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, which was known as "The Traveling Circus."
On August 1 of that year, he served on a B-24D aircraft while participating in a historic mission, codenamed Operation Tidal Wave. The operation was the first large-scale, low-altitude attack by the U.S. on Romania.
However, confusion in navigation during the attack caused some planes to miss their turn, where they encountered German anti-aircraft fire. The B-24D that Harth was traveling in crashed and he was killed.
"The amount of bravery that day when they took off from Libya is astounding," Alan Landers, a member of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, said. "They knew how low they were going to fly, they knew they were going to meet those defenses and they knew they were going to be blowing up petroleum. It's truly incredible."
Several days after the bombing raid, Romanian civilians and officials recovered the remains of the deceased Americans and interred them in the Hero Section of the Bolovan Cemetery. In 1946 and 1947, Harth's remains were reinterred into an American cemetery in Belgium. The American Graves Registration Command was able to identify 145 of the Soldiers killed in the operation, but Harth's remains were listed as non-recoverable.
However, after extensive DNA analysis and testing, Harth's remains were positively identified thanks to DNA provided by his niece in addition to dental records.
"We didn't know a whole lot about my uncle because it was devastating to my grandparents and my mother," Bonnie Hipkins, Harth's niece, said. "So learning all of this stuff about him is invaluable."
Fort Jackson held a ceremony for the family of Lt. Harth on Friday. His family said they can now rest easy knowing Harth is home.
"We're really emotional for everything that Fort Jackson has done, everything the Army has done to get him home and all of these organizations who have come out to provide full honors for my uncle," Hipkins said.
Lt. William H. Harth Jr.
Columbia, SC - Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William H. Harth, Jr., 22, of Columbia, South Carolina, accounted for on November 3, 2017, died August 1, 1943 Born in Columbia on February 27, 1921, William was the son of the late Velda Baxter Harth and William Henry Harth, Sr., who played and coached football, and was the athletic director at the University of South Carolina. William attended St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. In the summer of 1943, Harth was a bombardier assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was known as "The Traveling Circus." On Aug. 1, 1943, he served on a B-24D aircraft, nicknamed "Hell's Angels," when he was participating in a historic mission, code-named Operation TIDAL WAVE, which was the first large-scale, low-altitude attack by U.S. heavy bomber aircraft on Ploesti, Romania. As Harth's aircraft approached Ploesti, it was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. He was declared missing in action when his aircraft failed to return following the mission. In the days following the bombing raid, Romanian officials and civilians recovered and interred the remains of the deceased American Airmen in the Hero Section of the Bolovan Cemetery. In 1946 and 1947, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) teams disinterred the remains of Americans killed in the raid, and reinterred them in the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium (now known as Ardennes American Cemetery). The AGRC was able to identify 145 Airmen killed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, including three of Harth's crewmates, however he was listed as non-recoverable. One set of unidentified remains was listed as Unknown X-5192 Neuville. After a thorough historical and scientific analysis, it was determined that Unknown X-5192 was, in fact, Lt. Harth. His remains will be returned to Columbia on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. A graveside service will be held Friday, April 6, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, will full military honors. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Survivors are his nieces, Bonnie Hipkins of Irmo and Carol Watson of Summerville; great-nephews, Ben Watson of Summerville, Max Hipkins of Irmo, Josh Griffin of Columbia, and Hugh Griffin of Fort Mill; and great-nieces, Jill H. Beuk of Charleston and Ginger Wadsworth of Irmo. In addition to his parents, his sister, Velda Harth Griffin and nephew, Bill Griffin are also deceased. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant William Harth was killed during World War II but his body was unaccounted for. The military used DNA matched from family to identify Harth's remains back in November 2017. Harth's body was greeted by family, other vets and Patriot Guard riders at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport on Wednesday night, April 4, 2018. Harth will be buried at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, with full military honors, on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 11 AM.