Casper Haboian was born in 1923 and from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force on 9 December 1942, after he graduated from high school. He became a pilot with the 160th Squadron, 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, flying Mustang P-51 fighters that were converted for photographic duty.

This group was tasked with flying reconnaissance missions and photographing different targets for attack by either air or ground forces.

363rd Tactical
Reconnaissance Group

XXIX Tactical Air Command

William E. Kenny was also a pilot with this squadron. He remembers that F/O Haboian was one of the few "Flying Sergeants" who had become pilot and then Flying Officer, instead of going the route of at least a few years college and then becoming a 2nd or 1st Lieutenant after graduating as a fighter pilot.

F/O Haboian was lost on a mission over Germany on 18 March 1945. Mr. Kenny, a graduate from Rutgers University, told interviewers for that University's Oral History Program:

"We don't know what happened with him. His number one man (1Lt Laurence H. Martin) said they caught a lot of flak and he told him to climb through the overcast and they would meet on top. Well, the theory is, they're not going to be able to see you when you're above the clouds.  So, he said Haboian called him and said he was on top and he said, “Okay,” and he said, “Go to ten thousand feet and I'll meet you over Essen,” or someplace like that.  He never showed up and, to this day, we don't know what happened to him."

1Lt Laurence H. Martin later reported that they "were on a reconnaissance mission, east of Cologne. At the end of the allocated area, we received moderate and heavy flak, between 360 and 450 meter altitude and just in front. I told Haboian to make a 180 degree right turn, which he confirmed. A few seconds later he came back to me saying he had reached the top of the cloud cover. I confirmed and told him to fly due west. We would climb above the clouds, so they couldn't see us and meet over Cologne. We didn't meet. I flew over Cologne at 9000 feet and called him on the radio and gave my position. I didn't receive an answer, although I had bad reception and I wasn't sure if he received my call. I stayed over Cologne for 15 minutes trying to reach my wingman. I then contacted radio station "Rose" and requested they would contact him and direct him back to base. When I returned I found out that they had not been able to contact him".

F/O Haboian nor his plane were ever found. He is mentioned on the Margraten Wall of the Missing. He was 22.

Margraten, The Netherlands

 

See also:
Other casualties of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group

Sources:
Mr. Kenny's quote is courtesy and (C) Rutgers University Oral History Website
http://www.luftkrieg-ederbergland.de/suchen3.htm (A German researcher is trying to solve the mystery of F/O Habioan. Website is in German)
http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/29thtac/index.html

Acknowledgements:
Mr. William E. Kenny
Rutgers University Oral History Archives

Directions to Margraten American Military Cemetery

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About