The Last from a historic Crew is gone.

Shaun · 10-05-2005, 10:02 AM

Just found out the last surviving member of the Memphis Belle's crew passed on Sat. ---- My condolences to his family but he did live a full life.

Robert Hanson, last Memphis Belle crew member, dies

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Robert Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during World War II, died of congestive heart failure. He was 85.

Hanson and his wife had moved from Arizona to Albuquerque recently to be close to their daughter. Hanson, who had suffered from heart problems for some time, died Saturday, family members said.

He was the radio operator on the Memphis Belle, which was the first U.S. bomber to fly 25 combat missions over Germany and France with its original crew intact. Hanson told his family stories about a chase involving several German planes, the bomber's tail being shot off and a nose dive that left the crew wondering if they should use their parachutes.

"It's the end of an era. There's no one left," Hanson's daughter, Mary Black, said Monday evening.

The Boeing Flying Fortress, which was named for the commander's Memphis, Tenn., sweetheart at the time, has been partially dismantled and on limited display in a Memphis-area hangar since March 2003.

Efforts to build a permanent museum in city to display and preserve the Belle fell apart last year, and the Air Force announced Aug. 31 it was moving the plane to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Workers began preparing the plane for the move last week.

Hanson's family remembers him as a caring father and grandfather who was known for his sense of humor. Friends say he was fond of ending his phone conversations with "dit, dit, dit, dah, dit, dah" - the same way radio operators signed off using Morse code.

Born in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1920, Hanson joined the military in 1941 and was assigned to the crew of the Memphis Belle. The Belle flew to England in September 1942 and departed on its first mission in November.

Army records show the plane flew 148 hours and dropped more than 60 tons of bombs.

During its missions, the Belle was hit by flak, cannon shells and machine gun bullets. The plane's major parts were replaced at least once, and four of the 10 crew members died during combat.

Family members said Hanson came close once.

He was writing in a log book one day and had to sneeze. As his head moved, a bullet missed him and put a hole through the book.

"He would always say, 'When it's your time, it's your time,'" his daughter said. "They had a lot of close calls."

Jason Black said he remembers stories about his grandfather not knowing if the crew would make it back from a mission.

"They were always thankful once they saw the coast," he said.

Hanson put the name of his sweetheart, Irene, next to the window where he sat just in case someone needed to know who to contact if he didn't make it, his grandson said. Hanson and Irene were married for 63 years and had three children.

Hanson is survived by his wife, 88-year-old Irene; daughter Mary Black of Albuquerque; son Rick Hanson of Spokane, Wash.; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service was planned for Wednesday afternoon at French Mortuary in northeast Albuquerque. Family members said Hanson would be flanked by photos of his days aboard the Belle, his bomber jacket and the famous log book.

Hanson and the crew finished their 25th mission on May 17, 1943. He went on to work as a salesman for Nalley Fine Foods in his hometown and became a regional manager. He later worked for a candy company in Spokane, Wash.

Hanson's family said he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, and when he was able he toured the country speaking about his experiences aboard the Belle.

The adventures of the Belle were brought back to life by a 1990 film, "Memphis Belle," that told a fictionalized version of the bomber's final mission.

The Belle's commander, retired Col. Robert K. Morgan, died in North Carolina in May 2004 at the age of 85.

---

On the Net:

Memphis Belle: http://www.memphisbelle.com/

Chris · 10-05-2005, 10:14 AM

"A great man in history now belongs to history forever"

Condolences to the family for losing one America's finest men

dhermesc · 10-05-2005, 02:30 PM

I could have sworn I've seen the "Memphis Belle" on display at Mud Island in Memphis. Or is this a another B17 that "boorrowed" the Memphis Belle's paint scheme?

Shaun · 10-05-2005, 03:39 PM

nope that was her on Display -- she is being moved to a field in KY for Restoration later in the year.

Otter · 10-06-2005, 08:49 AM

..._._ (SK) End of work.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

Calvin · 10-07-2005, 09:50 PM

Heard on the news last night that they are shipping the Belle up here to Wright-Patterson for a full restoration.
I work at the base, so I'll try to get some snapshots of it when they bring it in and post them for everyone.

Shaun · 10-07-2005, 10:32 PM

Thanks Calvin I have always wanted to see her

Troy · 10-08-2005, 12:59 AM

thanks Calvin, I look forward to the pics if you can get them.

Calvin · 10-08-2005, 09:17 PM

I've got some pics of her on the flatbeds as they brought her in. I gotta download them from my phone to a disc. I hope to have this done by Monday evening.

Dennis · 10-09-2005, 02:23 PM

WOW I thought that the Memphis display WAS perminant
I live about 4 miles from the plant that made the B17's
I live across, and down the street from the plant that built the B29's
2 blocks over is the old Pac Car plant, they made sherman tanks, the old tank prooving ground area was finally developed a coupla years ago.
it was a weird little valley with all the grades exactly perfect. the road was still there and the remains of the concrete fording trenches and other stuff was still there untill a coupla years ago.
Now it is the Kenworth plant where the green river killer worked.....

The Memphis Belle is a monument to the courage of the men who flew that plane and represents ALL the men who flew those planes.
And it is also a monument to all the thousands of regular people that that worked and sweated and put the best quality they could in to those planes.
that is what helped those men to do what they did.
the crews of the B-17's and B-29'swhere just the tip of a long line of people that where fighting the war.
most of them lived right around here.
probably in my house back then. the reason being is that they wanted people close to the plant so they could walk or bicycle to work to save gas.
I am saddened by the loss of the last crew member of the Belle but heartened by the fact that the memory of the Belle is so well documented. We know about the Belle, That is Important.
There where thousands and thousands and THOUSANDS Of Flight crews flying in many different types of planes, getting shot at over enemy Territory
We remember them through the Memphis Belle.
That is important.

DANA · 10-09-2005, 05:44 PM

Dennis

My B-29 came out of Renton in 1944

DANA

10-05-2005, 10:02 AM	#1
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	The Last from a historic Crew is gone. Just found out the last surviving member of the Memphis Belle's crew passed on Sat. ---- My condolences to his family but he did live a full life. Robert Hanson, last Memphis Belle crew member, dies ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Robert Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during World War II, died of congestive heart failure. He was 85. Hanson and his wife had moved from Arizona to Albuquerque recently to be close to their daughter. Hanson, who had suffered from heart problems for some time, died Saturday, family members said. He was the radio operator on the Memphis Belle, which was the first U.S. bomber to fly 25 combat missions over Germany and France with its original crew intact. Hanson told his family stories about a chase involving several German planes, the bomber's tail being shot off and a nose dive that left the crew wondering if they should use their parachutes. "It's the end of an era. There's no one left," Hanson's daughter, Mary Black, said Monday evening. The Boeing Flying Fortress, which was named for the commander's Memphis, Tenn., sweetheart at the time, has been partially dismantled and on limited display in a Memphis-area hangar since March 2003. Efforts to build a permanent museum in city to display and preserve the Belle fell apart last year, and the Air Force announced Aug. 31 it was moving the plane to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Workers began preparing the plane for the move last week. Hanson's family remembers him as a caring father and grandfather who was known for his sense of humor. Friends say he was fond of ending his phone conversations with "dit, dit, dit, dah, dit, dah" - the same way radio operators signed off using Morse code. Born in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1920, Hanson joined the military in 1941 and was assigned to the crew of the Memphis Belle. The Belle flew to England in September 1942 and departed on its first mission in November. Army records show the plane flew 148 hours and dropped more than 60 tons of bombs. During its missions, the Belle was hit by flak, cannon shells and machine gun bullets. The plane's major parts were replaced at least once, and four of the 10 crew members died during combat. Family members said Hanson came close once. He was writing in a log book one day and had to sneeze. As his head moved, a bullet missed him and put a hole through the book. "He would always say, 'When it's your time, it's your time,'" his daughter said. "They had a lot of close calls." Jason Black said he remembers stories about his grandfather not knowing if the crew would make it back from a mission. "They were always thankful once they saw the coast," he said. Hanson put the name of his sweetheart, Irene, next to the window where he sat just in case someone needed to know who to contact if he didn't make it, his grandson said. Hanson and Irene were married for 63 years and had three children. Hanson is survived by his wife, 88-year-old Irene; daughter Mary Black of Albuquerque; son Rick Hanson of Spokane, Wash.; and six grandchildren. A memorial service was planned for Wednesday afternoon at French Mortuary in northeast Albuquerque. Family members said Hanson would be flanked by photos of his days aboard the Belle, his bomber jacket and the famous log book. Hanson and the crew finished their 25th mission on May 17, 1943. He went on to work as a salesman for Nalley Fine Foods in his hometown and became a regional manager. He later worked for a candy company in Spokane, Wash. Hanson's family said he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, and when he was able he toured the country speaking about his experiences aboard the Belle. The adventures of the Belle were brought back to life by a 1990 film, "Memphis Belle," that told a fictionalized version of the bomber's final mission. The Belle's commander, retired Col. Robert K. Morgan, died in North Carolina in May 2004 at the age of 85. --- On the Net: Memphis Belle: http://www.memphisbelle.com/ __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

10-05-2005, 10:14 AM	#2
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,168 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	"A great man in history now belongs to history forever" Condolences to the family for losing one America's finest men __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

10-05-2005, 02:30 PM	#3
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	I could have sworn I've seen the "Memphis Belle" on display at Mud Island in Memphis. Or is this a another B17 that "boorrowed" the Memphis Belle's paint scheme? __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

10-05-2005, 03:39 PM	#4
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	nope that was her on Display -- she is being moved to a field in KY for Restoration later in the year. __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

10-06-2005, 08:49 AM	#5
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	..._._ (SK) End of work. "Life is too important to be taken seriously." __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

10-07-2005, 09:50 PM	#6
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,000	Heard on the news last night that they are shipping the Belle up here to Wright-Patterson for a full restoration. I work at the base, so I'll try to get some snapshots of it when they bring it in and post them for everyone.

10-07-2005, 10:32 PM	#7
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	Thanks Calvin I have always wanted to see her __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

10-08-2005, 12:59 AM	#8
Troy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manitoba Canada Posts: 2,501 Images: 3	thanks Calvin, I look forward to the pics if you can get them.

10-08-2005, 09:17 PM	#9
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,000	I've got some pics of her on the flatbeds as they brought her in. I gotta download them from my phone to a disc. I hope to have this done by Monday evening.

10-09-2005, 02:23 PM	#10
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,877	WOW I thought that the Memphis display WAS perminant I live about 4 miles from the plant that made the B17's I live across, and down the street from the plant that built the B29's 2 blocks over is the old Pac Car plant, they made sherman tanks, the old tank prooving ground area was finally developed a coupla years ago. it was a weird little valley with all the grades exactly perfect. the road was still there and the remains of the concrete fording trenches and other stuff was still there untill a coupla years ago. Now it is the Kenworth plant where the green river killer worked..... The Memphis Belle is a monument to the courage of the men who flew that plane and represents ALL the men who flew those planes. And it is also a monument to all the thousands of regular people that that worked and sweated and put the best quality they could in to those planes. that is what helped those men to do what they did. the crews of the B-17's and B-29'swhere just the tip of a long line of people that where fighting the war. most of them lived right around here. probably in my house back then. the reason being is that they wanted people close to the plant so they could walk or bicycle to work to save gas. I am saddened by the loss of the last crew member of the Belle but heartened by the fact that the memory of the Belle is so well documented. We know about the Belle, That is Important. There where thousands and thousands and THOUSANDS Of Flight crews flying in many different types of planes, getting shot at over enemy Territory We remember them through the Memphis Belle. That is important. __________________ Submitted with respect to all

10-09-2005, 05:44 PM	#11
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	Dennis My B-29 came out of Renton in 1944 DANA