2nd Lt. Durden William Looper: An American Hero's Story
Background and Early Life:
Durden William Looper was born on March 18, 1923, in Sebastian County, Arkansas. He grew up on a family farm near Greenwood, Arkansas, and graduated from Mansfield High School in 1939. In 1942, the same year he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, he married Ruth Marie Kurtz, with whom he had one daughter, Virginia.
Military Service:
Looper served as a co-pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was part of the crew of the B-24 bomber named "Lonesome Lady" (serial number 44-40680). On July 28, 1945, the Lonesome Lady was on a mission to destroy the damaged Japanese battleship Haruna in Kure Harbor near Hiroshima. During this mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, forcing the crew to bail out over enemy territory.
Capture and Imprisonment:
After safely parachuting to the ground, Looper, along with several of his crewmates, was captured by Japanese forces. They were then taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters in Hiroshima, where they were held as prisoners of war.
The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima:
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., Hiroshima was devastated by the atomic bomb "Little Boy" dropped by the Enola Gay. Looper, along with at least ten other American POWs, was killed either in the immediate blast or shortly thereafter due to radiation sickness. The Chugoku building where they were held was approximately 2,600 feet from the bomb's epicenter, resulting in extensive damage.
Aftermath and Legacy:
Notification and Remembrance: Ruth Looper was informed six months later that her husband had "probably died" in the atomic explosion, though official confirmation from U.S. military records was delayed due to lost service records in a 1973 fire.
Burial: Looper's remains were eventually returned to the United States and interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri, in a group grave with seven other Hiroshima victims.
Memorials: His name is honored in various memorials, including one at Andersonville in Macon County, Georgia, dedicated to the U.S. Army Air Force and Navy airmen who lost their lives while POWs in Hiroshima.
Historical Recognition: Durden Looper's story has been part of broader efforts to remember and acknowledge the American POWs who died in the atomic bombings. Historians and researchers like Shigeaki Mori have worked to ensure these individuals are not forgotten, leading to documentaries and memorial services.
Durden William Looper was the son of Walter and Bertha Looper.