James T. Hahn Crew

JAMES T. HAHN CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 23 June 1944)

(Back L-R) 1Lt James T. Hahn (P)(KIA),
2Lt Benton R. Woodbury (B), 2Lt James O. Fulks (CP)(POW)

(Front L-R) S/Sgt Robert F. Lusk (WG), Sgt Winifred E. Lemonds (WG),
S/Sgt Leslie F. Traver (TG)(KIA), S/Sgt Andrew Dabrowski (BTG)(KIA),
T/Sgt John R. Conkling (R)(KIA), T/Sgt Pete M. Kalasky (E)(POW)

Note: The Hahn crew was never assigned a regular Navigator and flew with a different Navigator on most of their combat missions

Twenty-nine dispatched and credited combat missions flown by 1Lt James T. Hahn:
196 (5 Sept 1944), 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 215, 216, 217, 218, 220, 223, 230, 248 (28 Sept 1944), With Lead crew (221, 227), With Deputy Lead Crew (229, 233, 235, 239, 246).
For mission dates, targets and mission folders see Combat Missions.

Seventeen B-17Gs flown by 1Lt James T. Hahn on his 29 credited combat missions:

44-6124 (No name) (360BS) PU-B - Missions 196, 200
42-31340 (P) Miss Liberty (360BS) PU-D - Missions 197, 211, 217, 218, 230
42-37841 Banshee (360BS) PU-P - Missions 198, 199
42-97546 (P) Idaliza (360BS) PU-E - Mission 201
42-97853 (P) Lucky Linda (360BS) PU-O - Missions 205, 206, 207, 215
42-97893 (P) Minnie the Moocher (360BS) PU-M - Missions 208, 210
42-97861 Iza Vailable III (360BS) PU-C - Mission 212
42-97187 (P) Miss Umbriago (360BS) PU-I - Mission 216
42-107196 (P) Temptress (360BS) PU-G - Mission 220
43-37629 (No name) (360BS) PU-A - Mission 223
42-102544 (P) Sack Time (360BS) PU-K - Mission 221
42-97329 (P) Flak Hak (360BS) PU-H - Mission 209
42-97805 (No name) (358BS) VK-Q- Mission 248

Lead Crew PFF B-17Gs (Radar dome replaced Ball Turret)

42-97986 (No name) (547BS/384BG) SO-Z - Mission 229
44-8137 (No name) (359BS) BN-Z - Mission 239
44-8038 (No name) (427BS) Gn-Z - mission 246
42-31739 (P) Sparky (360BS) PU-Y - Mission 233
(P) See Nose Art Photos

Crew Notes - Original 1Lt Hahn crewmen:

1Lt James T. Hahn (P)(KIA) - 29 credited missions flown. First mission (196) - Flew with a combat orientation Co-Pilot, 2Lt James A. Ross. Missions 196 through 220 and 223, 230 and 248 flown as First Pilot. Was made a Lead crewman As a Lead crew CoPilot (Missions 221, 223). As a Deputy Lead First Pilot Crew (Missions 229, 233, 235, 239, 246).

On 28 Sept 1944 (Mission 248), 1Lt Hahn and an unidentified airman parachuted to safety near Halchter, Germany. They surrendered and were taken to the City Hall. After searching the flyers, local Police Sergeant Wilhelm Bock, 50, armed with pistol and carbine, left the community house with the airmen. Shortly thereafter, both flyers were shot by Bock near a gravel pit on the road to a nearby airfield. The unidentified flyer was killed and Hahn was wounded with a bullet wound in his chest. They were driven to a nearby town. Hahn walked from the truck and was being treated by a local Red Cross nurse when Bock arrived with a drawn pistol and ordered everyone to leave. Bock and the Mayor of Halchter remained with Hahn, and shortly thereafter a shot was heard by three witnesses. Hahn was killed with a bullet to the head. The two airman were buried in a common grave, along with four others killed on the same combat mission.
Bock was convicted of murder at a War Crimes trial 7-13 November 1946 in Dachau, Germany. He was sentenced to death by hanging and executed on 3 April 1947. You can read the Trial Transcript here.
2Lt James O. Fulks (CP)(POW): 28 credited missions flown - With 1Lt Hahn (Hahn missions 197 through 220 and 223, 229, 230, 233, 246, 248). Substitute CoPilots used on three missions (196, 235, 239). POW on 28 September 1944 (Mission 248). Germans showed him the two blood- soaked parachutes that had been riddled by gun holes, and the dog tags of Sgts Conklin and Proctor.
1Lt Benton R. Woodbury (B/N): 35 credited missions flown: 14 with 1Lt Hahn - As Bombardier (196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 210, 215, 216, 217); As Navigator (205, 206, 207, 208); 21 missions with eight other Pilots: Seven with 1Lt William C. Crawford - As Bombardier (233, 235, 240, 242). As Navigator (211, 218, 221); Three with 2Lt Arley L. Atwell - As Navigator (227, 228, 231); Three with 2Lt Hector F. Vitale - As Navigator (212, 229, 230); Two with 1Lt Norment Foley - As Bombardier (255, 256); Two with 1Lt Milton C. Butler - As Navigator (258, 262); Two with 1Lt Frank Juns - As Navigator (264, 265); One with 2Lt Oscar A. Tellinghouse - As Bombardier (209); One with 2Lt Arthur B. Middlemas - As Navigator (266). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 2 November 1944 (Mission 266).
T/Sgt Pete M. Kalasky (E)(POW): 27 credited missions flown: 26 with 1Lt Hahn (Hahn missions 196 through 220 and 223, 229, 230, 235, 239, 246, 248); One with another Pilot (233). Became a POW on 28 September 1944 (Mission 248). Saw the tail section of his crashed B-17 while a POW on the road to Brunswick, Germany.
T/Sgt John R. Conkling (R)(KIA) and S/Sgt Andrew Dabrowski (BTG)(KIA) - 27 credited missions flown - All with 1Lt Hahn (All Hahn missions except lead crew missions 221, 227) KIA on 28 September 1944 (Mission 248). T/Sgt Conkling's parachute didn't open, damaged by 20 mm shells. S/Sgt Dabrowski died in the crash of the B-17.
S/Sgt Robert F. Lusk (WG) - 21 credited missions flown - All with 1Lt Hahn (All Hahn missions except 209, 210 and 211, where S/Sgt John B. Mitchell was used, and 221, 227, 230, 239 and 248). Did not fly on 1Lt Hahn's last mission (248). Last mission (246) on 26 September 1944 - two days before his crewmen were lost on 28 September 1944 (Mission 248).
S/Sgt Leslie F. Traver (TG)(KIA) - 9 credited missions flown - All with 1Lt Hahn (196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 205, 206, 207). Substitute Tail Gunners used on other 1Lt Hahn missions. Was KIA on 19 July 1944 (Mission 207) to Hollreigers-Reth, Germany on B-17G 42-97853 Lucky Linda (360BS) PU-O. Flak fragments went through his flak suit and hit him in the back. His body was brought back to Molesworth.
Sgt Winifred E. Lemonds (WG) - Was deleted from the Lt Hahn crew before the crew started their combat missions on 5 July 1944. Flew no missions with the 303rd BG(H. Was transferred to the 9th Air Force in France. Flew 52 missions and safely returned home.

Crew Note - Substitute crewman:

2Lt Robert L. Dunn (N) - 22 credited missions flown: 8 with 1Lt Hahn (196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 209, 212); 14 with other Pilots (179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 188, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210). Photo with Lt Arley L. Atwell web page. Was sick in the hospital when crew was assigned and flew no missions with the Lt Atwell crew.,

Crew Notes - Substitute Crewmen on 28 September 1944 (Mission 248) with 1Lt Hahn:

1Lt Jack H. Benford (B)(KIA) - 23 credited missions flown: One with 1Lt Hahn (248); 22 with other Pilots - 10 with Lt William M. Wilson (185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 192, 193, 194, 195, 205), 12 with other Pilots (184, 185, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 221, 222, 224, 227, 230, 234). KIA on mission 248. Died in the damaged B-17.
2Lt Charles F. Olson (N)(POW) - 25 credited missions flown: One with 1Lt Hahn (248); 24 with other Pilots: 22 with Lt Bertrand Hallum, Jr. (200, 212, 203, 205, 209, 210, 212, 213, 214, 218, 220, 221, 222, 223, 228, 229, 232, 233, 240, 243, 246, 247). 2 with other Pilots (198, 239). Made a successful parachute jump on 27 August 1944 (Mission 233) over England, 1Lt Bertrand Hallum, Jr. (Pilot). Made a second successful parachute jump on mission 248 and was captured and made a POW after his landing.
S/Sgt Robert D. Proctor (WG/TG)(KIA) - 5 Credited missions flown: One with 1Lt Hahn - As Waist Gunner (248); Four with 1Lt William C. Crawford - As Tail Gunner (235, 236, 238), As Waist Gunner (244). KIA on mission 248 - Parachute didn't open, damaged by 20 mm shells
S/Sgt Hans Howald (WG/TOG) (KIA) - 29 Credited missions flown: 14 with 1Lt Hahn (210, 211, 212, 216, 217, 218, 220, 230, 233, 235, 239, 246, 248); 15 with other Pilots - As Waist Gunner (141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 151), As Togglier (198, 199, 200, 208, 228, 229, 231, 243). Was a member of the Lt Edgar C. Miller crew and Lt Max A. Christian crew. KIA on mission 248 - Died in the aircraft.

Mission Note:

28 September 1944 (Mission 248) to Magdeburg, Germany in B-17G 42-97805 (No name) (358BS) VK-Q, 1Lt James T. Hahn, Pilot. A German FW-190 formation put a large hole in the right wing. The gas tank behind the #4 engine was hit and was on fire. The fire then enveloped the entire right wing. The B-17 was forced out of the formation and started down. 1Lt Hahn ordered his crew to bail out and the fortress blew up while in a spin. (6 KIA and 3 POW). Missing Aircrew Report 9412.

[photo courtesy of Col. Walter K. Shayler - identification by Winifred Lemonds]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]