Ray Hamlin Conard (1919 - 1944)

Born 22 Jun 1919 in Miller Township, Knox County, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Died 26 Nov 1944 at age 25 in Germany [uncertain]

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Biography

Captain Ray Conard served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): 734 Bomb Sq. 453 Bomb. Group, 8th Air Force
Service ended:

Captain Ray Conard was killed in action during World War II.

Ray Conard was awarded the Purple Heart.

Ray Conard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Ray Conard was awarded the Air Medal.

Ray Hamlin Conard was born on 22 Jun 1919 in Miller Township, Knox County, Ohio. He was the son of Wesley Conard and Frances Beever. His father passed away a few months before his birth.^[1] In 1920, Ray, his brother and his mother were enumerated twice - once in Homer, Licking County, Ohio^[2] and once in Newark, Licking County, Ohio with Ray's maternal grandmother and aunts.^[3] By 1930, his mother had married Marvin Wilmoth. In 1930 their family lived in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.^[4] They later moved to Kent, Portage County, Ohio. Ray graduated from Roosevelt High School there and attended Kent State University, but enlisted in the armed forces about six months before he would have graduated.^[5][6]

Ray married Eva Marie Long on 17 Mar 1942 in Kent, Ohio.^[7] They had one daughter.^[6]

During World War II, Ray served in the US Air Force. He enlisted in 1941 and served as an instructor for 2.5 years. He then was stationed in England as a bomber pilot with 734th Bomb Squadron in the 453rd Bombardment Group in the Eighth Air Force.^[6][8] He was killed in action over Germany on 26 Nov 1944 and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart.^[9][8] He was buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in England.^[8][10]

Sources

1. ↑ Ohio, Birth Certificates, File No. 54, Ray Hamlin Conard, 22 Jun 1919, Miller Township, Knox County, Ohio, USA; "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q236-PJCC : accessed 12 Apr 2024).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," ED 122, Homer village, Burlington Township, Licking County, Ohio, USA; sheet 2A, family 27, Ray H Conard in Frances Conard household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD1G-LJ2.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," ED 150, Newark city ward 2, Newark Township precinct B, Licking County, Ohio, USA; sheet 8A, family 166, Ray H Conard in Alice Beever household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD15-MSV.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," ED 18-37, Cleveland City ward 3, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA; sheet 21A, family 3, Ray Conrad in Marvin Wilmoth household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X43M-238.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," ED 67-15, Brady Lake, Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio, USA; sheet 11B, family 253, Ray Conard in Marvin Wilmoth household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWL7-GJF.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Obituary: "Capt. Conard Meets Death," The Newark Advocate and American Tribune [Ohio], 28 Dec 1944, page 7, column 3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-obituary-for-ray-ham/145211020/ : accessed 11 Apr 2024).
7. ↑ Wedding announcement: "Utica News," Ray Hamlin Conard and Eva Marie Long wedding, The Newark Advocate and American Tribune [Ohio], 24 Mar 1942, page 3. column 2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-ray-hamlin-conard-an/145211490/ : accessed 11 Apr 2024).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} "U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949," database with images, Ancestry Record 9170 #71418 : accessed 12 April 2024); citing American Battle Monuments Commission, Arlington, VA, Cemetery Records; Ray H Conard, died 26 Nov 1944, buried Cambridge, England.
9. ↑ Capt. Ray Hamlin Conard in "Licking Adds 83 Names To Roll Of Honored Dead," The Newark Advocate and American Tribune [Ohio], 30 May 1945, page 9, column 1; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-ray-hamlin-conard-de/145211217/ : accessed 11 Apr 2024).
10. ↑ "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #56288697 : accessed 12 April 2024), Memorial page for Capt Ray Hamline “Hammie” Conard (22 Jun 1919-26 Nov 1944), citing Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England (plot: Plot F-Row 1-Grave 12); Maintained by Jack Barnhart (contributor 47367181).