The 406th was the first Fighter Group over Utah Beach in support of the Normandy landings.
Howard sank a German naval vessel in Brest harbour and shot down three Me109s in only five aerial encounters with the Luftwaffe.
During the Battle of the Bulge, the 406th FG was exclusively assigned to the defence of the beleaguered town of Bastogne. When the weather finally cleared, the 406th attacked the Germans with devastating success.
Howard flew combat until the end of the war in May 1945.
