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Military
491st Bomb Group, May 2009. The final Annual Reunion at the 8th Air Force Museum, Savannah, Georgia, USA. 40 Members were in attendance.
Enlisted in 1942 and served in WW2, The Korean war and The Vietnam war, before retiring in 1969 as a lieutenant colonel.
35 missions beginning 8 Sep 44, completed 35th mission 3 Mar 45. Most memorable: low level supply to eindhoven, holland 18 sep 44 Six missions to Magdeburg-Heck of a way to win an air medal. Longest mission: Dresden-9 1/2 hours. , Led 8 lead crew missions as pilotage navigator. 1953 flew 50 B-26 missions in Korea - 13th Squadron: 3rd Bomb Wing. Kuanson, Korea. Post Korea: Selected for regular air force commission. 1955-1960: HQ air material command. Executive ast to director of po\rocurement and production. 1960-64 Deputy Cmdr : Atlant Air Procurement Dist. 1965 - Executive officer, director dept of defense project 60, (integration of service contract magt offices nationwide)1966- Chief, Airborne electronics div. Warner Robins AM Area1967-69 Comdr Detachment 2 Air Procurement Region Far East, Philipine Air Lines, manila PI1970 - Chief, Production Div, Electronic Systems Div. Retired 13 Mar 70 for disability rank at retirement: Lt. Col, 491st BG Association Vice President 1988-1989Founding President of AFHS-Georgia Chapter 1982Trustee Eighth Air Force Museum 1999-Present, Halesworth (Aug-Nov 44) No Pickenham (Nov 44-May45)
Awards:
DFC/Air Medal w 8/Oak Leaf Cluster/EAME Campaign Ribbon w 4/bs/ Korean Service Medal w 3/Oak Leaf Cluster/ Pres. Unit Citation w/Oak Leaf Cluster
After the war he began two careers, one of which was designing the Atlanta MARTA rail system.
Hap also became president of the 8th Air Force Historical society and was part of the founding committee of the Mighty 8th Air Force museum in savannah.
Group
The 489th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Halesworth, Suffolk, for several months from May 1944 until later in the year. The Group flew tactical missions in support of ground forces in northern France. It was in this tactical role that the crews...
Group
The 491st Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators in bombing missions over northern France and Germany from June 1944 until April 1945. Missions over Germany included bombing the headquarters of the German General Staff at Zossen. The Group was awarded a DUC...
Squadron
Squadron
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Toccoa, Georgia | 28 July 1921 |
| Enlisted | 1942 | |
|
Served for 28 years until 1969 |
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| Died | 10 October 2016 | |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2019 13:14:29 | Ollie Lewis | Changes to highest rank, biography, awards and events |
| Sources | ||
The 8AF News |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:09:34 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Georgia Chapter 8th AFHS 1998 Directory; Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000; self & Unit history & p228 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION edited by Randy Baumgardner, D790.A2S45 |
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