World War II Honoree

Harmon Charles Hastings

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Huntsville, Alabama

Honored By

Annie Jo Hastings Andrews

Relationship

Sister

SERVED AS A TAIL GUNNER ON B-17 AIRCRAFT WITH 544TH BOMBER SQUADRON, 384TH BOMB GROUP. ASSIGNED TO U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE STATION 106, NEAR GRAFTON, UNDERWOOD, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND. THE UNIT FLEW SUPPORT FOR THE NORMANDY INVASION AND SUPPORTED GROUND TROOPS DURING THE BREAKTHROUGH AT SAINT LO IN JULY, 1944. ON JANUARY 8, 1945, ON THE 25TH MISSION, THE B-17 WAS SHOT DOWN OVER KYLLBURG, GERMANY. CREWMEN REPORTED SEEING HIM BAIL OUT. THE CREW MEMBERS WERE EVENTUALLY ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT HE WAS NEVER FOUND. RECEIVED PURPLE HEART, AND AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS .