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 - StagLuft 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.

Service

Events

Event	Location	Date
Born		9 December 1923
Born in LeMars, Iowa, USA
Prisoner of War (POW)	Stag Luft I (POW) North 3 Camp - Germany	5 December 1944 – April 1945
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