Dean Carol Hoevet
Major, U.S. Army Air Forces

Aviation Cadet Dean Carol Hoevet did his ground work at Rantoul, IL, his intermediate flying at Randolph Field, TX, and graduated from flight school in 1937 at Kelly Field, TX, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the rating of Pilot. He was then trained in heavy bombers at March Field in California.

Prior to World War II, in October 1941 Hoevet's squadron was moved to Hawaii and was there during the Japanese sneak attack on 7 December 1941. The 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was moved to Corregidor, where they flew missions until May 1942 when the Group had to evacuate via submarine ahead of the invading Japanese. In the early summer of 1942, the airfield at Mareeba, Queensland, Australia was taken over by the 30th Bombardment Squadron of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Fifth Air Force with MAJ Dean Hoevet in command. From Mareeba several sorties were flown to Rabaul, a Japanese stronghold where severe damage was done by the many new B-17's now available to the 19th Group.

From 12 to 14 August 1942, MAJ Hoevet’s unit was in action against Japanese forces while participating in bombing missions against enemy targets in the Southwest Pacific Area. MAJ Hoevet led 4 missions against Rabaul in a 3-day period. These missions caused great damage to the Japanese and destroyed enemy airplanes, thereby limiting the enemy's ability to conduct air attacks on the U.S. Marines landing in the Solomon Islands. MAJ Hoevet’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism during that time earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Two days later, on 16 August 1942, B-17E Flying Fortress SN 41-2434, piloted by MAJ Hoevet, took off on a flight to test a new flare dropping mechanism. Several armament officer passengers were on board to perform the testing of the mechanism. During the flight, the mechanism malfunctioned and a flare exploded inside the bomber. The B-17E Flying Fortress crashed into the sea and exploded on impact roughly a mile off Yorkeys Knob north of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The entire crew and all passenger were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Afterwards, Mareeba Airfield was renamed "Hoevet Field" in honor of the pilot, Major Dean C. Hoevet. [Data from https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2434.html]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 1
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Major (Air Corps) Dean C. Hoevet (ASN: 0-22248), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 30th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, while participating in bombing missions from 12 to 14 August 1942, against enemy targets in the Southwest Pacific Area. Major Hoevet led four missions against Rabaul in a three-day period. These missions caused great damage to the Japanese and destroyed enemy airplanes, thereby limiting the enemy's ability to conduct air attacks on U.S. Marines landing in the Solomon Islands. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Major Hoevet on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 34 (September 15, 1942)

Memorialization

The remains of Major Dean Carol Hoevet have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

[A small amount of data was excerpted from http://www.ozatwar.com/whoevet.htm]