..Enlisted in U.S. Army as a Private 19 AUG 1942 from Pocatello, ID ..Grammar School Grad ..Single ..5.4" 153 LBS.
From familysearch.org:
On 19 August 1942 he entered the armed service and on 27 May 1943 he went overseas where he was stationed in England. He belonged to the 381st group of the 534th Bombardment Squadron. His position on the planes was gunner and bombadier. He was in many battles, some of them were Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy and Rheinland. He was among the 120 B-17s that bombed the bearing factory in Frankfort, Germany. On these missions there were no fighter escorts. The bombers went alone and fought their way to the bombing positions and then back to their bases. On one mission of the 120 flying fortresses that went, only 3 returned. His squadron flew over Normany beach and prepared it for invasion of France. During his rest periods between missions he was always among the group of volunteers to help the Red Cross clean up after bombings. Among the decorations and citations he received were: World War II Victory Medal, Europa-Africa Middle East Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and American Theatre Ribbon. He was discharged from the Air Force on 20 October 1945.
Obituary from The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT) - Tuesday, June 24, 1958:
Walter Kenneth Hansel, 49, died Monday after a heart attack.
Born March 25, 1909, Garber, Iowa, to Earl and Lucille Hansel. Married Lela Bell, November 20, 1942, Boise, Idaho.
Farmer in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Survivors: widow; stepson, William Earl Fronce, Pasadena, California; stepdaughter, Mrs. Roy (Yvonne) Grende, Salt Lake City; six step-grandchildren; five sisters; two brothers.
Funeral and burial, Friday, St. Anthony.
From familysearch.org:
On 19 August 1942 he entered the armed service and on 27 May 1943 he went overseas where he was stationed in England. He belonged to the 381st group of the 534th Bombardment Squadron. His position on the planes was gunner and bombadier. He was in many battles, some of them were Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy and Rheinland. He was among the 120 B-17s that bombed the bearing factory in Frankfort, Germany. On these missions there were no fighter escorts. The bombers went alone and fought their way to the bombing positions and then back to their bases. On one mission of the 120 flying fortresses that went, only 3 returned. His squadron flew over Normany beach and prepared it for invasion of France. During his rest periods between missions he was always among the group of volunteers to help the Red Cross clean up after bombings. Among the decorations and citations he received were: World War II Victory Medal, Europa-Africa Middle East Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and American Theatre Ribbon. He was discharged from the Air Force on 20 October 1945.
Obituary from The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT) - Tuesday, June 24, 1958:
Walter Kenneth Hansel, 49, died Monday after a heart attack.
Born March 25, 1909, Garber, Iowa, to Earl and Lucille Hansel. Married Lela Bell, November 20, 1942, Boise, Idaho.
Farmer in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Survivors: widow; stepson, William Earl Fronce, Pasadena, California; stepdaughter, Mrs. Roy (Yvonne) Grende, Salt Lake City; six step-grandchildren; five sisters; two brothers.
Funeral and burial, Friday, St. Anthony.
..Enlisted in U.S. Army as a Private 19 AUG 1942 from Pocatello, ID ..Grammar School Grad ..Single ..5.4" 153 LBS.
From familysearch.org:
On 19 August 1942 he entered the armed service and on 27 May 1943 he went overseas where he was stationed in England. He belonged to the 381st group of the 534th Bombardment Squadron. His position on the planes was gunner and bombadier. He was in many battles, some of them were Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy and Rheinland. He was among the 120 B-17s that bombed the bearing factory in Frankfort, Germany. On these missions there were no fighter escorts. The bombers went alone and fought their way to the bombing positions and then back to their bases. On one mission of the 120 flying fortresses that went, only 3 returned. His squadron flew over Normany beach and prepared it for invasion of France. During his rest periods between missions he was always among the group of volunteers to help the Red Cross clean up after bombings. Among the decorations and citations he received were: World War II Victory Medal, Europa-Africa Middle East Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and American Theatre Ribbon. He was discharged from the Air Force on 20 October 1945.
Obituary from The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT) - Tuesday, June 24, 1958:
Walter Kenneth Hansel, 49, died Monday after a heart attack.
Born March 25, 1909, Garber, Iowa, to Earl and Lucille Hansel. Married Lela Bell, November 20, 1942, Boise, Idaho.
Farmer in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Survivors: widow; stepson, William Earl Fronce, Pasadena, California; stepdaughter, Mrs. Roy (Yvonne) Grende, Salt Lake City; six step-grandchildren; five sisters; two brothers.
Funeral and burial, Friday, St. Anthony.
From familysearch.org:
On 19 August 1942 he entered the armed service and on 27 May 1943 he went overseas where he was stationed in England. He belonged to the 381st group of the 534th Bombardment Squadron. His position on the planes was gunner and bombadier. He was in many battles, some of them were Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy and Rheinland. He was among the 120 B-17s that bombed the bearing factory in Frankfort, Germany. On these missions there were no fighter escorts. The bombers went alone and fought their way to the bombing positions and then back to their bases. On one mission of the 120 flying fortresses that went, only 3 returned. His squadron flew over Normany beach and prepared it for invasion of France. During his rest periods between missions he was always among the group of volunteers to help the Red Cross clean up after bombings. Among the decorations and citations he received were: World War II Victory Medal, Europa-Africa Middle East Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and American Theatre Ribbon. He was discharged from the Air Force on 20 October 1945.
Obituary from The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT) - Tuesday, June 24, 1958:
Walter Kenneth Hansel, 49, died Monday after a heart attack.
Born March 25, 1909, Garber, Iowa, to Earl and Lucille Hansel. Married Lela Bell, November 20, 1942, Boise, Idaho.
Farmer in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Survivors: widow; stepson, William Earl Fronce, Pasadena, California; stepdaughter, Mrs. Roy (Yvonne) Grende, Salt Lake City; six step-grandchildren; five sisters; two brothers.
Funeral and burial, Friday, St. Anthony.
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