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| Lt. Robert Hanson was an F4U-1 Corsair fighter ace shooting down 25 Japanese planes. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8121665 The Boston Globe, 19 Feb 1944 |
Robert Hanson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.
He was born on February 4, 1920 in Lucknow, India. His parents were Methodist missionaries who served in India. Robert had one older brother, two younger brothers and one younger sister. Robert spent most of his youth in India. In 1938 he decided to return to the states to attend college. He was bicycling through Austria on his way to America when he saw firsthand German troops entering Austria during the Anschluss.
He was attending Hamline University in Minnesota when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Robert volunteered for the marines in May 1942. By February 1943 he had earned his wings and was made an officer in the US Marines Corps. He flew F4U-1 Corsairs.
Lt. Hanson was stationed in the South Pacific in June 1943. He proved to be a natural fighter pilot. Many pilots went through the war with few if any kills. At one point Lt. Hanson shot down 20 Japanese planes in a 17 day period. Lt. Hanson survived being shot down over Bougainville. He was able to land his plane in the ocean and was rescued by a destroyer. In total he shot down 25 enemy planes.
Lt. Hanson earned both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. These are his citations:
Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Robert Murray Hanson (MCSN: 0-19154), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN (VMF-215), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 5 January 1944 to 3 February 1944.
Intercepted by a superior number of Japanese fighters while covering a flight of our bombers in a strike against enemy shipping in Simpson harbor on 14 January, First Lieutenant Hanson boldly engaged the hostile planes in fierce combat, pressing home repeated attacks with devastating force. Separated from his squadron during the intense action, he valiantly continued the engagement alone, successfully destroying five enemy Zeros before being forced by lack of ammunition and gasoline to return to his base.
First Lieutenant Hanson's superb airmanship, brilliant initiative and dauntless fighting spirit enabled our bombers to deliver a crushing blow to the Japanese in that sector and return safe to their base and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Medal of Honor:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO FIFTEEN in action against Japanese forces at Bougainville Islands, November 1, 1943, and New Britain Island, January 24, 1944.
Undeterred by fierce opposition and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On November 1, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked six enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying one Japanese plane during the action.
Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on January 24, First Lieutenant Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down four Zeros and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war.
His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Thank you Lt. Hanson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.
Last year on this date I profiled Dallas Books. You can read about Dallas here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Lt. Hanson's final mission was on February 3, 1944, the day before his twenty-fourth birthday. A mission to bomb Rabaul had been called off after takeoff due to overcast. On the way back to base, Lt. Hanson tried to take out a lighthouse that had regularly fired flak at American planes. His plane was damaged and his attempt to land in rough seas was not successful.
His cenotaph grave is at Newton Cemetery in Newton, Massachusetts.
Last year on this date I profiled Dallas Books. You can read about Dallas here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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