Siblings
The Harrington family lived in Meridian, Mississippi. Fred had four brothers and one sister: William, Herman, Joseph, John (Tiny), and Claire.
William
William James Harrington was born on January 24th, 1913. William was James’ and Hallie’s oldest child. He worked as a helper at an oil station and later worked for the State Highway. When the clouds war kicked up in gear, he volunteered for United States Army Air Corps. William died on January 5th, 1997, a few weeks before his 84th birthday. He is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
Herman
Herman was born on June 15th, 1915. At 15, Herman worked as a paper delivery boy. Herman enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on September 16th, 1942 and became a fighter pilot. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain and was released on January 28th, 1946[1]. He married Sarah Louise Palmer on June 15th, 1951, in Roswell, New Mexico. He also had a child, named Gabriel Harrington, who lived to be the age of 64 and died in the Spring of 2019. Herman died at the age of 81 on December 26th, 1996. He is buried in South Park Cemetery in Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico.
Joseph
Joseph Louis Harrington (O-79331) was born on April 17th, 1918. Along with Fred, Herman, John, and William, Joseph was also a fighter pilot in the US Army Air Corps. He enlisted in September of 1940. He received his wings at Turner Field, Georgia. Joseph reportedly had made such a record as a cadet and pilot that he was chosen by the Air Corps to begin training as a big bomber/transport pilot. Sadly, Joseph was killed in a routine training flight in Ohio on January 21st, 1943. He was flying a P-39 Bell Aracobra plane around the Heffner farm, which is about three miles east of Circleville, Ohio. He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during his time in the Army.
John (Tiny)
Siblings
The Harrington family lived in Meridian, Mississippi. Fred had four brothers and one sister: William, Herman, Joseph, John (Tiny), and Claire.
William
William James Harrington was born on January 24th, 1913. William was James’ and Hallie’s oldest child. He worked as a helper at an oil station and later worked for the State Highway. When the clouds war kicked up in gear, he volunteered for United States Army Air Corps. William died on January 5th, 1997, a few weeks before his 84th birthday. He is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
Herman
Herman was born on June 15th, 1915. At 15, Herman worked as a paper delivery boy. Herman enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on September 16th, 1942 and became a fighter pilot. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain and was released on January 28th, 1946[1]. He married Sarah Louise Palmer on June 15th, 1951, in Roswell, New Mexico. He also had a child, named Gabriel Harrington, who lived to be the age of 64 and died in the Spring of 2019. Herman died at the age of 81 on December 26th, 1996. He is buried in South Park Cemetery in Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico.
Joseph
Joseph Louis Harrington (O-79331) was born on April 17th, 1918. Along with Fred, Herman, John, and William, Joseph was also a fighter pilot in the US Army Air Corps. He enlisted in September of 1940. He received his wings at Turner Field, Georgia. Joseph reportedly had made such a record as a cadet and pilot that he was chosen by the Air Corps to begin training as a big bomber/transport pilot. Sadly, Joseph was killed in a routine training flight in Ohio on January 21st, 1943. He was flying a P-39 Bell Aracobra plane around the Heffner farm, which is about three miles east of Circleville, Ohio. He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during his time in the Army.
John (Tiny)
Dr. John N. Harrington was born on August 9th, 1920. John attended and graduated from Meridian High. He was a member of the 114 FA, 31st Division of the Mississippi National Guard. He was later assigned to Officer Candidate School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he graduated and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. John transferred over to the US Army Air Corps, where he later received his pilot training at the B-17 school at Sebring, Florida. John was assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group in Foggia, Italy. He flew bombing missions over Northern Italy, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Rumania until he was shot down over Vienna, Austria on July 16th, 1944. For the next 10 months, John was a Nazi prisoner and was kept as a POW at Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany. John was liberated by the Russians in May 1945. While imprisoned as a POW in Germany, John discovered his love for medicine and got his bachelor’s in science from the University of Alabama and later received his M.D. from Tulane in 1951. He then served as an Air Force Medical Officer during the Korean War. After service, he returned to Tulane for his OB-GYN specialty training. John served his community in Columbus relentlessly, becoming highly respected and loved by all who knew him. He died in his home in Columbus, Mississippi on August 11th, 2010, two days after his birthday. John lived to be 90 years old and named one of his own sons after his little brother, Fred. John is buried at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi.
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Hallie Claire
Hallie Clair Harrington Bidgood was born on June 16th, 1928 and was the youngest of six siblings in the Harrington household. Claire graduated from Meridian High School in 1946. She was a member of the DBS (Dusty) Social Club at Meridian High. For college, she attended Ole Miss, where she was selected a class beauty and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She was married to a man named Charles “Bubber” Bidgood on December 26th, 1948. “Claire was a member of the Meridian Junior Auxiliary and was a Phi Kappa Fraternity Mom. She was a substitute teacher at Meridian High School, enjoyed bowling with friends, deep sea fishing, Ole Miss sports (especially football), and being with her family.” Hallie Claire lived to be 87 years old and died on October 28th, 2015. She was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
Hallie Clair Harrington Bidgood was born on June 16th, 1928 and was the youngest of six siblings in the Harrington household. Claire graduated from Meridian High School in 1946. She was a member of the DBS (Dusty) Social Club at Meridian High. For college, she attended Ole Miss, where she was selected a class beauty and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She was married to a man named Charles “Bubber” Bidgood on December 26th, 1948. “Claire was a member of the Meridian Junior Auxiliary and was a Phi Kappa Fraternity Mom. She was a substitute teacher at Meridian High School, enjoyed bowling with friends, deep sea fishing, Ole Miss sports (especially football), and being with her family.” Hallie Claire lived to be 87 years old and died on October 28th, 2015. She was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.