World War II Honoree

Haywood S. 'Possum' Hansell, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Monroe, Virginia

Honored By

Joe Feaster

SERVED AS A SPECIAL OBSERVER AT LONDON, ENGLAND, AND THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE WAR PLANS DIVISION OF THE AIR STAFF IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN APRIL 1942, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE OPERATIONS DIVISION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT GENERAL STAFF AND SERVED ON THE JOINT STRATEGIC COMMITTEE. ASSIGNED IN AUGUST 1942, TO COMMAND THE THIRD BOMB WING OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE IN EUROPE. THE FOLLOWING DECEMBER HE BECAME COMMANDER OF THE FIRST BOMB WING OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE IN THAT THEATER, AND IN JULY 1943, WAS NAMED DEPUTY COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE. IN OCTOBER 1943, HE WAS APPOINTED AIR PLANNER ON THE JOINT PLANNING STAFF AT ARMY AIR FORCES HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C. IN AUGUST 1944, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS COMMANDING THE XXI BOMBER COMMAND BASED ON SAIPAN. HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN JANUARY 1945, AND THE FOLLOWING MONTH ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 38TH FLYING TRAINING WING AT KIRTLAND FIELD, NEW MEXICO. IN JUNE 1945, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AT WASHINGTON, D.C. HE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, LEGION OF MERIT, SILVER STAR, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND AIR MEDAL. HE IS RATED A COMMAND PILOT, COMBAT OBSERVER, AND TECHNICAL OBSERVER. DURING THE WAR HE FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS OF OPERATION.