USAAF WORLD WAR II
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 36738150
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA
MACR #7896
Target: Airdrome, Juvincourt, France
Mission Date: 12-Aug-44
Serial Number: #42-110024
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-P
Aircraft Name: OLE COCK
Location: Crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Cause: FUEL
Crew of 10 3KIA 5POW 2Evadee, returned
Visual bombing again proved to be excellent. No enemy resistance was encountered and fighter support was good. However, one 506th aircraft failed to return.
The MACR states, in part, that this aircraft left the formation at 1037 hours, losing altitude. The pilot called to say he was low on fuel. He was advised to call for fighter cover and then head for Allied lines. He called again to say that #3 engine had cut out and the fuel tank to #4 engine was empty. When last seen, he was headed for Allied lines and escorted by fighters. They crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Both Lt. Crawford, navigator, and Robert J. Reiner, gunner, bailed out, evaded capture, and with the assistance of the French Underground, returned to duty on 31 August 1944. Only 19 days from date of mission until they returned to duty! Five other men survived to become POWs. I spoke with Peter Crawford, the navigator, and he provided the following information: Shortly after bombing the airfield in France, one engine failed, thought to be caused by flak. Shortly thereafter, another engine also failed, so Peter gave his pilot directions to the nearest Allied airfield to land. However, the plane lost altitude too quickly, and it was necessary for the crew to abandon ship. Peter said that it was about 12,000 feet when he bailed out, but that he free fell down to about 800 feet before he opened his chute because the Germans were shooting at them. As soon as he landed, he started running, and kept it up for about five miles. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by the French Underground and they quickly got him near the British/Canadian troops, and away from German capture.
I asked him if all of the crew bailed out and he was quite sure that both pilots remained with the plane.
The pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, had several times stated that, “Like the captain on a ship, the pilot should stay with his airplane.” As both McGuire and Titus (the co-pilot) were KIA, one could assume that they elected to stay with their plane. But, of course, another possibility could be that when down to the lower altitude, German gunners could zero in on it with small arms fire or anti-aircraft guns to shoot it down. Also, one gunner, Carl Daniels, also was KIA. It is not known if he remained with the plane or was killed coming down in his parachute.
Peter said that as soon as the pilot gave the orders to bail out, he was the first one out, followed by the bombardier, Merle Turley. After returning to the base at Shipdham and relating everything that happened to him on the 12th of August, evasion and assistance by the French, Crawford asked to be put back into combat. However, he was not permitted to do so, but was never told why not. After some weeks, and no job found for him, he asked to be returned to the States, and was.
Merle Turley, the bombardier, provided the following account: “We were in the 44th/506th for a very short time. As I recall, only a couple of weeks. Therefore, I met very few other airmen and have to admit that I cannot, at this time, remember any outside of my crew. We flew nine missions in the ten days that we were in the 44th, and did not return from our ninth mission.
“On the morning of the 9th mission, we had breakfast very early and were briefed on the mission, then driven to our plane in a truck. Upon arriving at our plane, which was named “Old Cock,” we did our walk around and other pre-flights and were told by the ground crew chief that our fuel had just been topped out full.
“After takeoff, and arriving at assembly area, our flight engineer, Edward Kramer, reported that we were low on fuel by the gauges. After much conversation between the pilot, McGuire, and the flight engineer, the pilot made the decision that after the conversation with the ground crew chief, that the gauges were at fault and that we would continue on the mission.
“The mission was supposedly a ‘milk run’ to hit the runways at an airport near Paris, which was really a short mission. After dropping the bombs and the squadron headed home, the fuel gauges were indicating that we were very low on fuel and in a short time after this, the operation of the
engines indicated that we were, indeed, low on fuel. At this time we radioed for a friendly landing strip on the peninsula taken by the recent invasion.
“We left the protection of the squadron and shortly were intercepted by three P-51s escorting us to the friendly base. The pilot feathered the engines, we threw out all excess baggage to lighten the weight of the plane, and put the plane in a descending glide in order to conserve fuel.
“As we approached friendly territory, the plane was so low that ground fire was beginning to hit the plane. For fear of disabling, the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the airplane. Seven parachuted out, two evaded, and five were captured and interned as POWs. Also, the pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, the co-pilot, Dudley Titus, and gunner, Carl E. Daniels, were killed in the crash of the plane. Why they did not bail out, I don’t know.
“Joe Hansen and I were captured together and taken to the front line POW camp where we were held for about a week then loaded in trucks headed for the interior of France. After some days in a truck, we arrived at Charlon, France. Here, again, I met with Hansen and Sgt. James Nokes. Here the officers were separated from the enlisted men and we were put in boxcars for seven days and arrived at Frankfurt, Germany interrogation camp.
“After about a week there, we were loaded in trains and arrived at a permanent POW camp, Stalag Luft I, in Barth, Germany. There, I stayed until the end of the war and was liberated by the Russians on 2 May 1945. I was flown from Barth, Germany airport on 12 May in B-17s. We arrived at Camp Lucky Strike 15 May. Sailed from Camp Lucky Strike 14 June on the USS Admiral Mayo. Docked in Boston Harbor and arrived at Camp Miles Standish on 21 June. Left
OLE COCK Crew
2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA Pilot
2nd/Lt. Dudley G. Titus Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Peter G. Crawford Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Merle G. Turley Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Edward Kramer Engineer POW
T/Sgt. John C. Cullinane Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Robert J. Reiner Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Carl E. Daniels Gunner KIA
Sgt. James C. Nokes Gunner
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 36738150
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA
MACR #7896
Target: Airdrome, Juvincourt, France
Mission Date: 12-Aug-44
Serial Number: #42-110024
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-P
Aircraft Name: OLE COCK
Location: Crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Cause: FUEL
Crew of 10 3KIA 5POW 2Evadee, returned
Visual bombing again proved to be excellent. No enemy resistance was encountered and fighter support was good. However, one 506th aircraft failed to return.
The MACR states, in part, that this aircraft left the formation at 1037 hours, losing altitude. The pilot called to say he was low on fuel. He was advised to call for fighter cover and then head for Allied lines. He called again to say that #3 engine had cut out and the fuel tank to #4 engine was empty. When last seen, he was headed for Allied lines and escorted by fighters. They crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Both Lt. Crawford, navigator, and Robert J. Reiner, gunner, bailed out, evaded capture, and with the assistance of the French Underground, returned to duty on 31 August 1944. Only 19 days from date of mission until they returned to duty! Five other men survived to become POWs. I spoke with Peter Crawford, the navigator, and he provided the following information: Shortly after bombing the airfield in France, one engine failed, thought to be caused by flak. Shortly thereafter, another engine also failed, so Peter gave his pilot directions to the nearest Allied airfield to land. However, the plane lost altitude too quickly, and it was necessary for the crew to abandon ship. Peter said that it was about 12,000 feet when he bailed out, but that he free fell down to about 800 feet before he opened his chute because the Germans were shooting at them. As soon as he landed, he started running, and kept it up for about five miles. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by the French Underground and they quickly got him near the British/Canadian troops, and away from German capture.
I asked him if all of the crew bailed out and he was quite sure that both pilots remained with the plane.
The pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, had several times stated that, “Like the captain on a ship, the pilot should stay with his airplane.” As both McGuire and Titus (the co-pilot) were KIA, one could assume that they elected to stay with their plane. But, of course, another possibility could be that when down to the lower altitude, German gunners could zero in on it with small arms fire or anti-aircraft guns to shoot it down. Also, one gunner, Carl Daniels, also was KIA. It is not known if he remained with the plane or was killed coming down in his parachute.
Peter said that as soon as the pilot gave the orders to bail out, he was the first one out, followed by the bombardier, Merle Turley. After returning to the base at Shipdham and relating everything that happened to him on the 12th of August, evasion and assistance by the French, Crawford asked to be put back into combat. However, he was not permitted to do so, but was never told why not. After some weeks, and no job found for him, he asked to be returned to the States, and was.
Merle Turley, the bombardier, provided the following account: “We were in the 44th/506th for a very short time. As I recall, only a couple of weeks. Therefore, I met very few other airmen and have to admit that I cannot, at this time, remember any outside of my crew. We flew nine missions in the ten days that we were in the 44th, and did not return from our ninth mission.
“On the morning of the 9th mission, we had breakfast very early and were briefed on the mission, then driven to our plane in a truck. Upon arriving at our plane, which was named “Old Cock,” we did our walk around and other pre-flights and were told by the ground crew chief that our fuel had just been topped out full.
“After takeoff, and arriving at assembly area, our flight engineer, Edward Kramer, reported that we were low on fuel by the gauges. After much conversation between the pilot, McGuire, and the flight engineer, the pilot made the decision that after the conversation with the ground crew chief, that the gauges were at fault and that we would continue on the mission.
“The mission was supposedly a ‘milk run’ to hit the runways at an airport near Paris, which was really a short mission. After dropping the bombs and the squadron headed home, the fuel gauges were indicating that we were very low on fuel and in a short time after this, the operation of the
engines indicated that we were, indeed, low on fuel. At this time we radioed for a friendly landing strip on the peninsula taken by the recent invasion.
“We left the protection of the squadron and shortly were intercepted by three P-51s escorting us to the friendly base. The pilot feathered the engines, we threw out all excess baggage to lighten the weight of the plane, and put the plane in a descending glide in order to conserve fuel.
“As we approached friendly territory, the plane was so low that ground fire was beginning to hit the plane. For fear of disabling, the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the airplane. Seven parachuted out, two evaded, and five were captured and interned as POWs. Also, the pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, the co-pilot, Dudley Titus, and gunner, Carl E. Daniels, were killed in the crash of the plane. Why they did not bail out, I don’t know.
“Joe Hansen and I were captured together and taken to the front line POW camp where we were held for about a week then loaded in trucks headed for the interior of France. After some days in a truck, we arrived at Charlon, France. Here, again, I met with Hansen and Sgt. James Nokes. Here the officers were separated from the enlisted men and we were put in boxcars for seven days and arrived at Frankfurt, Germany interrogation camp.
“After about a week there, we were loaded in trains and arrived at a permanent POW camp, Stalag Luft I, in Barth, Germany. There, I stayed until the end of the war and was liberated by the Russians on 2 May 1945. I was flown from Barth, Germany airport on 12 May in B-17s. We arrived at Camp Lucky Strike 15 May. Sailed from Camp Lucky Strike 14 June on the USS Admiral Mayo. Docked in Boston Harbor and arrived at Camp Miles Standish on 21 June. Left
OLE COCK Crew
2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA Pilot
2nd/Lt. Dudley G. Titus Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Peter G. Crawford Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Merle G. Turley Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Edward Kramer Engineer POW
T/Sgt. John C. Cullinane Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Robert J. Reiner Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Carl E. Daniels Gunner KIA
Sgt. James C. Nokes Gunner
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
USAAF WORLD WAR II
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 36738150
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA
MACR #7896
Target: Airdrome, Juvincourt, France
Mission Date: 12-Aug-44
Serial Number: #42-110024
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-P
Aircraft Name: OLE COCK
Location: Crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Cause: FUEL
Crew of 10 3KIA 5POW 2Evadee, returned
Visual bombing again proved to be excellent. No enemy resistance was encountered and fighter support was good. However, one 506th aircraft failed to return.
The MACR states, in part, that this aircraft left the formation at 1037 hours, losing altitude. The pilot called to say he was low on fuel. He was advised to call for fighter cover and then head for Allied lines. He called again to say that #3 engine had cut out and the fuel tank to #4 engine was empty. When last seen, he was headed for Allied lines and escorted by fighters. They crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Both Lt. Crawford, navigator, and Robert J. Reiner, gunner, bailed out, evaded capture, and with the assistance of the French Underground, returned to duty on 31 August 1944. Only 19 days from date of mission until they returned to duty! Five other men survived to become POWs. I spoke with Peter Crawford, the navigator, and he provided the following information: Shortly after bombing the airfield in France, one engine failed, thought to be caused by flak. Shortly thereafter, another engine also failed, so Peter gave his pilot directions to the nearest Allied airfield to land. However, the plane lost altitude too quickly, and it was necessary for the crew to abandon ship. Peter said that it was about 12,000 feet when he bailed out, but that he free fell down to about 800 feet before he opened his chute because the Germans were shooting at them. As soon as he landed, he started running, and kept it up for about five miles. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by the French Underground and they quickly got him near the British/Canadian troops, and away from German capture.
I asked him if all of the crew bailed out and he was quite sure that both pilots remained with the plane.
The pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, had several times stated that, “Like the captain on a ship, the pilot should stay with his airplane.” As both McGuire and Titus (the co-pilot) were KIA, one could assume that they elected to stay with their plane. But, of course, another possibility could be that when down to the lower altitude, German gunners could zero in on it with small arms fire or anti-aircraft guns to shoot it down. Also, one gunner, Carl Daniels, also was KIA. It is not known if he remained with the plane or was killed coming down in his parachute.
Peter said that as soon as the pilot gave the orders to bail out, he was the first one out, followed by the bombardier, Merle Turley. After returning to the base at Shipdham and relating everything that happened to him on the 12th of August, evasion and assistance by the French, Crawford asked to be put back into combat. However, he was not permitted to do so, but was never told why not. After some weeks, and no job found for him, he asked to be returned to the States, and was.
Merle Turley, the bombardier, provided the following account: “We were in the 44th/506th for a very short time. As I recall, only a couple of weeks. Therefore, I met very few other airmen and have to admit that I cannot, at this time, remember any outside of my crew. We flew nine missions in the ten days that we were in the 44th, and did not return from our ninth mission.
“On the morning of the 9th mission, we had breakfast very early and were briefed on the mission, then driven to our plane in a truck. Upon arriving at our plane, which was named “Old Cock,” we did our walk around and other pre-flights and were told by the ground crew chief that our fuel had just been topped out full.
“After takeoff, and arriving at assembly area, our flight engineer, Edward Kramer, reported that we were low on fuel by the gauges. After much conversation between the pilot, McGuire, and the flight engineer, the pilot made the decision that after the conversation with the ground crew chief, that the gauges were at fault and that we would continue on the mission.
“The mission was supposedly a ‘milk run’ to hit the runways at an airport near Paris, which was really a short mission. After dropping the bombs and the squadron headed home, the fuel gauges were indicating that we were very low on fuel and in a short time after this, the operation of the
engines indicated that we were, indeed, low on fuel. At this time we radioed for a friendly landing strip on the peninsula taken by the recent invasion.
“We left the protection of the squadron and shortly were intercepted by three P-51s escorting us to the friendly base. The pilot feathered the engines, we threw out all excess baggage to lighten the weight of the plane, and put the plane in a descending glide in order to conserve fuel.
“As we approached friendly territory, the plane was so low that ground fire was beginning to hit the plane. For fear of disabling, the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the airplane. Seven parachuted out, two evaded, and five were captured and interned as POWs. Also, the pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, the co-pilot, Dudley Titus, and gunner, Carl E. Daniels, were killed in the crash of the plane. Why they did not bail out, I don’t know.
“Joe Hansen and I were captured together and taken to the front line POW camp where we were held for about a week then loaded in trucks headed for the interior of France. After some days in a truck, we arrived at Charlon, France. Here, again, I met with Hansen and Sgt. James Nokes. Here the officers were separated from the enlisted men and we were put in boxcars for seven days and arrived at Frankfurt, Germany interrogation camp.
“After about a week there, we were loaded in trains and arrived at a permanent POW camp, Stalag Luft I, in Barth, Germany. There, I stayed until the end of the war and was liberated by the Russians on 2 May 1945. I was flown from Barth, Germany airport on 12 May in B-17s. We arrived at Camp Lucky Strike 15 May. Sailed from Camp Lucky Strike 14 June on the USS Admiral Mayo. Docked in Boston Harbor and arrived at Camp Miles Standish on 21 June. Left
OLE COCK Crew
2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA Pilot
2nd/Lt. Dudley G. Titus Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Peter G. Crawford Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Merle G. Turley Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Edward Kramer Engineer POW
T/Sgt. John C. Cullinane Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Robert J. Reiner Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Carl E. Daniels Gunner KIA
Sgt. James C. Nokes Gunner
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 36738150
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA
MACR #7896
Target: Airdrome, Juvincourt, France
Mission Date: 12-Aug-44
Serial Number: #42-110024
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-P
Aircraft Name: OLE COCK
Location: Crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Cause: FUEL
Crew of 10 3KIA 5POW 2Evadee, returned
Visual bombing again proved to be excellent. No enemy resistance was encountered and fighter support was good. However, one 506th aircraft failed to return.
The MACR states, in part, that this aircraft left the formation at 1037 hours, losing altitude. The pilot called to say he was low on fuel. He was advised to call for fighter cover and then head for Allied lines. He called again to say that #3 engine had cut out and the fuel tank to #4 engine was empty. When last seen, he was headed for Allied lines and escorted by fighters. They crashed near Pont L’Eveque, France.
Both Lt. Crawford, navigator, and Robert J. Reiner, gunner, bailed out, evaded capture, and with the assistance of the French Underground, returned to duty on 31 August 1944. Only 19 days from date of mission until they returned to duty! Five other men survived to become POWs. I spoke with Peter Crawford, the navigator, and he provided the following information: Shortly after bombing the airfield in France, one engine failed, thought to be caused by flak. Shortly thereafter, another engine also failed, so Peter gave his pilot directions to the nearest Allied airfield to land. However, the plane lost altitude too quickly, and it was necessary for the crew to abandon ship. Peter said that it was about 12,000 feet when he bailed out, but that he free fell down to about 800 feet before he opened his chute because the Germans were shooting at them. As soon as he landed, he started running, and kept it up for about five miles. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by the French Underground and they quickly got him near the British/Canadian troops, and away from German capture.
I asked him if all of the crew bailed out and he was quite sure that both pilots remained with the plane.
The pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, had several times stated that, “Like the captain on a ship, the pilot should stay with his airplane.” As both McGuire and Titus (the co-pilot) were KIA, one could assume that they elected to stay with their plane. But, of course, another possibility could be that when down to the lower altitude, German gunners could zero in on it with small arms fire or anti-aircraft guns to shoot it down. Also, one gunner, Carl Daniels, also was KIA. It is not known if he remained with the plane or was killed coming down in his parachute.
Peter said that as soon as the pilot gave the orders to bail out, he was the first one out, followed by the bombardier, Merle Turley. After returning to the base at Shipdham and relating everything that happened to him on the 12th of August, evasion and assistance by the French, Crawford asked to be put back into combat. However, he was not permitted to do so, but was never told why not. After some weeks, and no job found for him, he asked to be returned to the States, and was.
Merle Turley, the bombardier, provided the following account: “We were in the 44th/506th for a very short time. As I recall, only a couple of weeks. Therefore, I met very few other airmen and have to admit that I cannot, at this time, remember any outside of my crew. We flew nine missions in the ten days that we were in the 44th, and did not return from our ninth mission.
“On the morning of the 9th mission, we had breakfast very early and were briefed on the mission, then driven to our plane in a truck. Upon arriving at our plane, which was named “Old Cock,” we did our walk around and other pre-flights and were told by the ground crew chief that our fuel had just been topped out full.
“After takeoff, and arriving at assembly area, our flight engineer, Edward Kramer, reported that we were low on fuel by the gauges. After much conversation between the pilot, McGuire, and the flight engineer, the pilot made the decision that after the conversation with the ground crew chief, that the gauges were at fault and that we would continue on the mission.
“The mission was supposedly a ‘milk run’ to hit the runways at an airport near Paris, which was really a short mission. After dropping the bombs and the squadron headed home, the fuel gauges were indicating that we were very low on fuel and in a short time after this, the operation of the
engines indicated that we were, indeed, low on fuel. At this time we radioed for a friendly landing strip on the peninsula taken by the recent invasion.
“We left the protection of the squadron and shortly were intercepted by three P-51s escorting us to the friendly base. The pilot feathered the engines, we threw out all excess baggage to lighten the weight of the plane, and put the plane in a descending glide in order to conserve fuel.
“As we approached friendly territory, the plane was so low that ground fire was beginning to hit the plane. For fear of disabling, the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the airplane. Seven parachuted out, two evaded, and five were captured and interned as POWs. Also, the pilot, Thomas J. McGuire, the co-pilot, Dudley Titus, and gunner, Carl E. Daniels, were killed in the crash of the plane. Why they did not bail out, I don’t know.
“Joe Hansen and I were captured together and taken to the front line POW camp where we were held for about a week then loaded in trucks headed for the interior of France. After some days in a truck, we arrived at Charlon, France. Here, again, I met with Hansen and Sgt. James Nokes. Here the officers were separated from the enlisted men and we were put in boxcars for seven days and arrived at Frankfurt, Germany interrogation camp.
“After about a week there, we were loaded in trains and arrived at a permanent POW camp, Stalag Luft I, in Barth, Germany. There, I stayed until the end of the war and was liberated by the Russians on 2 May 1945. I was flown from Barth, Germany airport on 12 May in B-17s. We arrived at Camp Lucky Strike 15 May. Sailed from Camp Lucky Strike 14 June on the USS Admiral Mayo. Docked in Boston Harbor and arrived at Camp Miles Standish on 21 June. Left
OLE COCK Crew
2nd/Lt. Thomas J. McGuire KIA Pilot
2nd/Lt. Dudley G. Titus Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Peter G. Crawford Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Merle G. Turley Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Edward Kramer Engineer POW
T/Sgt. John C. Cullinane Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Robert J. Reiner Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Carl E. Daniels Gunner KIA
Sgt. James C. Nokes Gunner
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Hansen Gunner POW
Inscription
Staff Sergeant
U.S. Army
World War II
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Prisoner of War
Gravesite Details
Interred August 6, 2013
Family Members
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