World War II Honoree

John S. Hancock

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Haileyville, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN 1939. COMPLETED FLIGHT SCHOOL, WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND AWARDED PILOT WINGS. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT PILOT OF B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBERS. ASSIGNED TO THE 30TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 19TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP. ON NOVEMBER 1, 1942, HIS AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN FROM A NIGHT MISSION OVER THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. HE WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN IN NEW GUINEA. ALL MEMBERS OF THE CREW PERISHED IN THE CRASH. AS REMAINS OF THE DECEASED WERE NOT FOUND UNTIL 1998, A FINDING OF DEATH WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED FOR THE CREW AFTER THE WAR. ONCE HIS REMAINS WERE RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED IN 2001, HIS STATUS WAS CHANGED TO KILLED IN ACTION. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.