B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

Hi all

Research in Germany resulted in a wartime Police Report saying in a crashed B-17 a dead airman was found during the USAAF raid on Hüls (synthetic Oil Works) on 22 June 1943. German Luftwaffe Police found near one of the side windows the partly burned body including ID of T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN (35 years old) ID 39 178169 T43 (home town King County WA) he was buried at the Mühlenfriedhof at Dülmen on 25th June 1943. This B-17 came down at Welte near Dülmen near farmer Jasper and 9 men were taken PoW and brought to Airfield Loddenheide near Münster. For this day 14 B-17 went lost and 5 MACR's are not available but I found out by way of deduction that this B-17 must have been 42-3209 of 306 BG 367 BS. Is there anyone who can confirm this and has more info on this crew ? f.i. someone who has the book ‘Combat diaries of the 306th Squadrons” by Russell Strong?
Peter Monasso

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

he was the WG of the B-17 42-3209 GY:Q "Janell"

shot down by fighters
oxygen exploded and all crew balled out

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

Hi Ron
Thank you for that info but do you -or anyone else- know the names of the other crewmembers?
Peter Monasso
www.crashmuseum.nl

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

Here is what is written in the book “First Over Germany: A History of the 306th Bombardment Group”, by Russell A. Strong. No ISBN, published by Hunter Pub. Co., 1982:

“Twenty-four aircraft led by Capt. Marlen Reber took off and twenty effectively bombed the synthetic rubber plant at Huls, Germany,” reads the Group Diary for 22 June. “It won’t be necessary to go back on this target again." From all accounts, the bombing was superb this day and set the synthetic rubber production of the Reich back to dismal proportions.

Again the 367th Squadron led the way with the only loss the Group suffered, as 2nd Lt. J.W. Johnson’s plane went down. Johnson and most of his crew had flown their first raid on 13 June to Bremen. Only Bombardier E.S. Gast had an additional raid to his credit. Other crew members who went down with Johnson were F/O H.M. Dunn, copilot; S/Sgt. George LaRubio, .engineer; S/Sgt. D.W. O’Connor, ball; T/Sgt. L.B. Hansen and S/Sgt. Mike Shuta, waist; and S/Sgt. Rob G Bell, tail. Four enemy fighters were claimed by 306th gunners for the day’s effort.

The above is only listing 8 crew, but I don't know why. I can't find a MACR for this bomber either.

The site http://www.usaafdata.com/search confirms that T/Sgt Laverne Hansen died aboard 42-3209, and he his the only USAAF casualty linked to this aircraft.

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

the missing person is the navigator 2lt Norman H Simpson

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

B-17f-35-DL 42-3209 "Janell" 306 BG
2nd Lt James W. Johnson
2nd Lt Norman H. Simpson
S/Sgt George D Larubio
S/Sgt D.W. O'Connor
S/Sgt Mike Shuta
F/O Harrold M. Dunn
T/Sgt LaVerne B. Hansen
S/Sgt Robert G. Bell
In the notes it has "No MACR":- T/O Thurleigh. (1 KIA 8 POW).
From "Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forses ETO area- June 1942 - December 1943' by Stan D Bishop and John A Hey MBE

Re: B-17 367 BS lost 22 June 1943 Hüls T/Sgt. Laverne B. HANSEN
 

Thank you all !

It’s always difficult to find more info if MACR’s are not available but you all did help to complete this case. For that reason this forum is great and again many thanks to all for your help.
Regards,
Peter Monasso
www.crashmuseum.nl