World War II Honoree

John W. Hanlon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Arnett, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA AREA OF OPERATIONS WITH THE INDIA-CHINA WING OF THE AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND. FLEW FROM HIS BASE IN INDIA AT HIGH ALTITUDES TO CLEAR THE HIMALAYAS AND OFTEN IN TREACHEROUS WEATHER TO DELIVER VITAL SUPPLIES VIA THE AERIAL SUPPLY ROUTE TO CHINA. INITIALLY LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, HIS STATUS WAS CHANGED AND A FINDING OF DEATH WAS ISSUED ON MARCH 27, 1944 AND HE WAS PRESUMED DEAD. HIS REMAINS WERE FOUND AND RECOVERED FROM A MOUNTAIN IN TIBET DURING AN EXPEDITION IN 2002. HIS REMAINS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AND HE WAS BURIED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA IN JUNE 2006.