Henry M Farwell

Military
media-34239.jpeg UPL 34239 "Crew of the Martin B-26 'Litljo' of the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group pose by their plane at their base in Boxted Field, Essex, England on 4 November 1943."
Note: Copilot C W Olson and Bombardier Lt J P Dennison.

Rear L-R: H M Farwell, Unknown, Major Gerard T Soper, A N Hillis, E J McDonnell.

Front L-R: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, S/Sgt George W Cheadle.

Object Number - UPL 34239 - "Crew of the Martin B-26 'Litljo' of the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group pose by their plane at their base in Boxted Field, Essex, England on 4...

Henry “Fireball” Farwell, of Milwaukee, enlisted into the USAAF in 1942. With the rank of Technical Sergeant he flew B-26 Marauders (radio operator/gunner) from Great Dunmow, home of the 386th Bomb Group (M) 9th USAAF. Farwell flew 68 combat missions (most of them in the same aircraft, ‘Litljo’). Flying in support of the Normandy Invasion, Litljo was hit by enemy Flak on 15 June, it’s Pilot and Farwell seriously wounded. Farwell describes his own wounds, “....the piece of flak punched a hole in the helmet and knocked it off my head, cutting a deep gash in my scalp. I was unconscious for only a minute or so. I was also hit in my left hip and groin”.



Litljo limped back to England for an emergency landing, it’s right engine and hydraulic system disabled. Crash-landing at Friston, the two wounded were later taken for hospital treatment at Oxford, via a single-engine stretcher plane. Farwell received X-ray treatment for his head wound and apart from receiving stitches was cleared; however his other injuries detained him in hospital for a further three weeks. Litljo fared much worse but despite severe damage was refitted for further service until she was eventually damaged beyond repair later on in the war.



Passed fit for duty, Farwell flew just one more mission before being sent back to the USA to Langly Field, Virginia, where he flew further training missions in B-24’s. He was discharged in July, 1946.



Farwell re-enlisted in March of 1946, making the Air Force his career. For the remainder of his service he worked in air traffic control, serving in Europe during the Berlin Airlift in 1948, and a tour of Vietnam before retiring with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in 1973.

His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (nine subsequent awards) and the Purple Heart (15/6/44).



Farwell's uniform and service dress cap from his service in Vietnam are held in IWM's collection.

Connections

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Units served with

Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Litljo" of the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group at Boxted. Printed caption on reverse: '69807 AC - (A) - Martin B-26 "Privy Donna" of the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group at its base at Boxted Field, Essex, England. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: Rene J. Francillon [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Litljo
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 554th Bomb Squadron

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

 

Date
ContributorEmily
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Sources

IWM catalogue records for Farwell's uniform (UNI 14313 and UNI 14611) which include information provided by Henry M Farwell to IWM.

Henry M Farwell: Gallery (1 items)