James Nicholas Hentges

Military
media-39618.jpeg UPL 39618 F/O JAMES NICHOLAS HENTGES James N Hentges Collection

Removed associations not depicted in media image.

Object Number - UPL 39618 - F/O JAMES NICHOLAS HENTGES

F/O James (Jim) N. Hentges (USAAF) WWII Veteran and POW.

My grandfather enlisted on 11 DEC 1942, at age 18 years, 2 days and was assigned to the Army Air Corp.



He completed his preliminary training at the Santa Ana Army Air Base - in his hometown of Santa Ana, Orange County, CA.



He was assigned to the 8th Air Force 02 Oct 1944. He was stationed at #138 Snetterton Heath Airfield. (BX-A), 96th BG (H), 339th BS, 3rd div, 45th CBW. European Theatre.



He did 7 missions, I have documented 5 so far.

1) (10?) NOV 1944

Possibly Weisbaden, Ger.

2) (15?) NOV 1944

Possibly Merseberg, Ger.

3) Mission 720 (21/11/44)

Onsabrock, Germany

#43-37647

4) Mission 723 (25/11/44)

Merseberg, Germany

#42-97971

5) Mission 725 (26/11/44)

Hamm, Germany

#42-97939

6) Mission 736 (04/12/44)

Mainz, Germany

#42-97939

7) Mission 738 (05/12/44)

Berlin, Germany

#43-38644

“Green Weenie”

(MACR 11343)

Aircraft was hit by flak and enemy fire from 3 ME 109’s and went down near Berlin, SE of Parchim, Germany. All 10 Crew bailed out, escaped serious injury and were captured by Germans. POW’s - Stalag Luft I - North 3 Camp. Liberated by the Russians (30/04/45)

Jim came back to the states, married my grandmother, Helen Louise (Mitchell) St. Clair, a single mother. He raised her son Michael (my father) as his own and lived a quiet life. They had no children together.



My father said he only spoke to him once about his time as a POW and my cousin said he would get upset if asked about it.



I was only 8 years old when he died, too young to ask about his military service.



I am piecing together what I can now, and have found myself emotionally attached to this part of our world’s history.



The lives lost, too many. All for our Freedom.

The stories read, aren’t just stories, they were Real Life to someone.

That part is very hard for me to wrap my head around.



Before you do anything, any thing in this life, think about those who fought and didn’t come home. And to those who were lucky enough to make it home, thank them.



Thank every veteran you come in contact with for their service, for they are the reasons we are able to live our lives, make our own choices, and live it FREELY!

NEVER forget that.



I personally want to thank each and every service member living and past for your service, for my freedom and my family’s freedom.



Sent with Love, Respect, Prayers and a Big Hug!

God Bless You, Thank You.

Connections

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Units served with

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Bomb Division 45th Combat Bomb Wing 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-825585
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Bomb Division 45th Combat Bomb Wing 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37485045
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Bomb Division 45th Combat Bomb Wing 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023186
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Green Weenie
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 5 December 1944
  • Date: 4 December 1944
  • Date: 26 November 1944
  • Date: 25 November 1944
  • Date: 21 November 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

9 December 1923 Born in LeMars, Iowa, USA

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Stag Luft I (POW) North 3 Camp - Germany 5 December 1944 POW crashed near Parchim on 5 Dec 44 in B-17 'Green Weenie' #4338644, MIA 05/12/1944, MACR #11343

Died

15 June 1980 At Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA of complications from Lung Cancer.

Buried

18 June 1980 Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "Stalag" was misspelled.

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

MACR 11343 -Mission 738
Loading Lists for Missions
720, 723, 725, 736
Enlistment Papers
POW File
Family and my own research, his granddaughter.

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

MACR 11343

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

Loading Lists for Missions:
720, 723, 735, 736
MACR 11343 - Mission 738

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

I am his granddaughter.
Have MACR and his Birth Certificate

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

MACR: # 11343

Date
ContributorMwatson72
Changes
Sources

Eighth Air Force Operations History Website. MACR #11343. American Air Museum Website.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11343 / MACR 11343, Snetterton Falcons, pg 218 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

James Nicholas Hentges: Gallery (25 items)