John Henry Hansen

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

media-20797.jpeg UPL 20797 John H. Hansen Crew
493rd BG - 862nd BS
Shot Down 29 June 1944

Standing Left to Right: Jerome Levy (N), Sidney Benson (CP), John Hansen (P), Malcolm Stich (B), Vernon Polzin (FE)

Kneeling Left to Right: Cyrus Aidala (BTG), John Sanders (WG), Walter Boykowski (TTG), Jose Ramos (R/O), Sylvanus Haskell (NTG)

Crew Roster on final mission:

John H. Hansen - P
Sidney A. Benson- CP
Jerome Levy - N
Malcolm Stich - B
Vernon J. Polzin - FE
Billy Gamillion R/O
Cyrus Aidala - BTG
John E. Sanders - WG
Sylvanus Haskel - NTG
Walter Boykowski - TG

Chris Brassfield

Object Number - UPL 20797 - John H. Hansen Crew 493rd BG - 862nd BS Shot Down 29 June 1944 Standing Left to Right: Jerome Levy (N), Sidney Benson (CP), John Hansen (P),...

Assigned to 862BS, 493BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) in B-24 42-94812 'Little Warrior' 29-Jun-44; flak hit caused conflagration, flames from cockpit to rear of bomb bay. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6721.

Awards: AM, PH.

Connections

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Units served with

493rd Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

862nd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Cyrus Rosario Aidala

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 32707915
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Sidney Alexander Benson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 11082314 / O-818558
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Walter Alexander Boykowski

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 13171280
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Billy Bennett Gomillion

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 38424702
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Sylvanus Green Haskell

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39297646
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Aircraft

42-94812

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Nicknames: - Little warrior
Unit: 490th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 861st Bomb Squadron

Missions

447

Date: 29 June 1944

Places

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial

Site type: Cemetery
Known as: Ardennes American Cemetery, Liege, Belgium

Debach

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Born	Madison County, Idaho	10 February 1921	Son of Andrew H Hansen.
Died Killed in Action (KIA)	Steiniger Berg, 63628 Bad Soden-Salmünster, Germany	29 June 1944 - 29 June 1944	"Aircraft No. 812 flying in the Number 3 position in A group received a direct flak hit near No. 3 Engine at 0939 hours in the target area just after bombs away. It was enveloped in flames from the nose to the rear of the bomb bays. It fell out of formation and disintegrated at about 10, 000 feet." Eight of the crew were found dead on the ground by German authorities that morning, a ninth body was found later. The tenth crewmember's body was discovered in a field, badly burned on July 11, 1944, and buried with the rest of the crew of LITTLE WARRIOR
Based	Debach	29 June 1944	Assigned to 862BS, 493BG, 8AF USAAF.
Buried	Fallersleben, Germany	30 June 1944	Interred Fallersleben forest cemetery, Germany
Buried	Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial		Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neuville-en-Condroz Arrondissement de Liège - Liège, Belgium Plot D, Row 2, Grave 16.
	Camden, NJ