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Robert Hanson
| Robert Hanson (deceased) Radio Operator and Gunner on the 'Memphis Belle'. Robert Hanson became a regular member of the crew during their training at Walla Walla, Washington in 1941. He kept a log book of the 'MEMPHIS BELLE' missions. He eventually retired from business to Mesa, Arizona. Robert Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber of World War II, passed away on October 1st 2005. Robert Hanson recalled 'When we got the tail shot off, Captain Morgan put the ship into a terrific dive and we dropped 2,000 or 3,000 feet. It pretty nearly threw me out of the airplane. 'I hit the roof. I thought we were going down and wondered if I should bail out. Then he pulled up again and I landed on my back. I had an ammunition box and a frequency meter on top of me. I didn't know what was going on. On another bombing run, Mr. Hanson was writing in a logbook when he sneezed, jerking his head. A bullet missed him when he moved and hit the logbook, which he kept the rest of his life. |
