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Honoring Harvey Gann

The 449th BGA (WWII) is pleased to announce that the Mayor of Austin Texas has issued a proclamation naming January 30, 2019 “Harvey Gann Day.”  Harvey Gann was flight engineer and top turret gunner for the Kendall crew of the 449th Bomb Group, 718th Squadron.  On January 30, 1944, his B-24 bomber with a crew of 10 participated in a bombing mission against a German airfield at Uldine, Italy.  During this mission, his plane experienced extensive damage from intense flax and opposition from German fighters resulting in the plane going down in German-held territory.  Harvey was the only survivor from the crew and was taken prisoner by German forces.  He made three escape attempts and was recaptured each time until his fourth attempt which was successful.

Congratulations to Harvey and a heartfelt thanks for your sacrifice and dedication in service to our Country.

Attached is the Proclamation:

Harvey Gann Day

September 13-15 Reunion Cancelled

To all 449th BG Members,

We regret to inform you that the forecasted impact of Hurricane Florence has led to the cancellation of the 449th Bomb Group 25th Reunion in Charlotte, NC scheduled for this week.  Over the evening the hurricane grew to a Category 4 and reports indicate that it will be moving much further inland than previously expected.

The severity of this storm will impact not only those driving to the event, but those flying as well.  Flooding and high winds will cause dangerous road conditions throughout the East Coast.  We have been informed that that the Charlotte Airport will more than likely be shut down starting Wednesday evening, and several reunion attendees have already received information from their airlines regarding cancelling and rescheduling flights.

We are reviewing the calendar for a possible date to reschedule for April-May 2019, keeping the same location (Charlotte) and events as scheduled this year.  Secretary Wilkie’s office is committed to working with us to reschedule his attendance as our Guest Speaker.

We have also been working very closely with the hotel and our event venues who have been graciously accommodating.  If you had reservations with our group at the Omni, we have taken care of all room cancellations. We will also be working diligently to process refunds for the reunion events, tours, and dinners… your patience will be much appreciated.

Please accept our heartfelt apologies for this tough decision.  We have the safety of all of our members in mind with this cancellation.  We look forward to being able to carry on with this wonderful reunion next spring and sincerely hope you will be there to share with us.

Any questions or concerns, please call Mary  (California) 714-925-8111

Richard Lapham – 449th BG VP
Mary Crowley – 449th BG Secretary
Denise Reigel – 449th BG Archives

Status Update for Hanson Crew – MACR 12511

Status Update for Hanson Crew – MACR 12511

At long last, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has completed the identifications of the remains recovered from the Hanson crash site in October 2015.  Unfortunately, they were only able to make three positive identifications.  The Primary Next of Kins have been notified that those identified were:

  • 2nd Lt.  Clarence L. Dragoo, Navigator
  • 2nd Lt. Richard M. Horwitz, Radar Navigator
  • T/Sgt. Thomas M. McGraw, Nose Gunner
  • That leaves three crew members still Missing In Action.
  • 1st Lt. Howard Hanson, Pilot
  • T/Sgt Lawrence W. Brady, Flight Engineer
  • T/Sgt Lawrence F. Nally, Radio Operator

STATUS UPDATE for MACR 2711 and 12511

STATUS UPDATE for MACR 2711 and 12511

STATUS UPDATE for MACR 2711 and 12511

By Johnie E Webb, Jr / Defense POW/MIA accounting Agency, Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hicham, Hawaii
February 2017

KENDALL CREW – MACR 2711

On 30 Jan 1944, B-24H #41-29217 with a crew of ten was hit by a fighter and anti-aircraft fire during an attack on Udine, Italy, lost altitude and seen to crash on coast of Adriatic Sea on Isle of Morgo. There was one survivor and American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) recovered two bodies, which had reportedly been removed from the crash site, from a local cemetery on adjacent island of Grado.

In 2010, a small team investigated a crash site in a marsh located in an environmentally protected European Union nature preserve and later correlated it to this missing B-24. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency put a series of plans into motion to assess the strategies to recover this lost crew. Then in May 2014, DPAA archaeologists with experts from the Army Corps of Engineers conducted an on-site survey at this location. They determined that the primary concentration of wreckage is believed to lie 10 to 15 feet below the surface of a duck pond and will require an extensive amount of excavation with special engineering and logistical considerations needed for a successful recovery.

The US Army Corps of Engineers provided DPAA a cost estimate for developing a statement of work for environmental assessments and engineering for this site. According to the plans, the first step involves engineering work to prepare the site for excavation. Once that is complete, an actual excavation can take place. The site also contains unexploded ordnance, so Explosive Ordnance Disposal factors need to be considered during excavation planning.

In late February, The DPAA Regional Director for European and Mediterranean operations will be meeting in Germany a representative of the Corps of Engineers who has coordinated the studies we’ve requested and paid for. The intent of the meeting is to get the copies of all the studies that have been conducted, and to get an update on where the Corps of Engineers is in the permitting process. In advance of those meetings the Corps of Engineers has supplied DPAA with a slide presentation outlining the work conducted jointly in 2014 to investigate the site, subsequent Corps of Engineers geotechnical investigation and survey, and the steps still to be taken toward excavation of the site.

Once the Europe Mediterranean Regional Directorate has received the Corps of Engineers test results and engineering recommendations, the excavation will be planned and executed as recommended.

HANSON CREW – MACR 12511

On 28 February 1945, B-24J #42-51642 departed from Grottaglie Air Base and did not return from a bombing mission on the Isarco/Albes railroad bridge. The entire crew of eleven was killed in the incident and six crew members have not been recovered. The aircraft was last sighted losing altitude nearing the Alps on the Italian-Austrian border. The recovered crew members were found along a 150 km stretch of the Adriatic coast in Italy, suggesting that the aircraft crashed in the water.

In August 2013 DPAA received information that Italian divers recently found possible human remains and aircraft wreckage including a partial serial number that corresponds to MACR 12511 at an underwater site near Grado, Italy. Based on this information, DPAA dispatched an Underwater Investigation Team to investigate the site in May 2014. The team confirmed the site as being that of MACR 12511 and recommended the site for recovery. From 25 August through 13 October 2015 an Underwater Recovery Team from DPAA conducted recovery operations at the site, recovering human remains, personal effects and artifacts.

The remains recovered from the site were taken to DPAA for analysis. Once the remains arrived at the laboratory they had to go through a desalination process to remove the salt from the remains. This process, which is completed, is necessary to protect the remains from damage that can occur due to crystallization of the salt. The remains have undergone laboratory analysis and DNA testing. The laboratory estimates the Identification Packets will be completed within the next 60 days and will be sent to the Army Casualty Office at Fort Knox. They will then make an appointment with the primary next of kin to arrange for a meeting to present the identification to the family.

Unfortunately the pace of identifications has slowed due to the retirement of DPAA’s primary Medical Examiner. The replacement is due to arrive this summer. The second Medical Examiner provided to DPAA by the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System will continue to validate/authorize identifications in the interim.

The 449th Bomb Group Association has closely followed DoD’s work on these cases and we honor their commitment to their fallen brothers who have not yet returned. We are proud of the support from veteran’s organizations and will diligently continue to work on bringing America’s fallen heroes home.

Nosker House

nosker-house

Nosker House

Plaque located by elevator of the lobby of Nosker House (patches at the bottom came from the 449th)

Nov. 4th, 2016 Jennifer and I had the privilege to attend a special event at The Ohio State University honoring the families of veterans for which dormitories in the North Campus district were named. One of those dormitories is Nosker House, named for Maj. Wm. Nosker, 718th squadron commander of the 449th BG(H). We were seated at the “Nosker table”. Also in attendance was Bill’s widow, a niece and his widow’s daughter by a second marriage and her caretaker.

William Nosker was an Ohio native and OSU alumnus where he played on the varsity football team and participated in student government. He was the original Commanding Officer of the 718th Squadron before being assigned as the Assistant Operations Officer for the 47th Wing. He was killed in a takeoff crash flying with the 376th Bomb Group for the 15 August 1944 Operation Dragoon invasion of Southern France.

After eating a delicious meal and hearing inspiring speeches, the members of our table were given a guided tour of Nosker House. (Nosker House was first opened for students the fall of 2016 and replaced a smaller and outdated Nosker House built in the 60’s.) It was an exciting experience for me and capped off a journey that started with the 2013 Louisville reunion. I’m pleased to see that the legacy of one of the 449th’s own has been honored in such a meaningful way.

See the Winter 2014 Latepass for more information about Major Nosker.
By Alan Davis

 

Nosker House

Picture from the banquet: Jennifer and I, Jean Lombard (Maj. Nosker’s widow), her daughter (second marriage), her niece (Bill’s brother’s daughter) and Jean’s caretaker.

Nosker House

Banner displayed in lobby of the dormitory (left: Grant Miller (author of Lantern article on “Doc” and Bill); right: Alex (dorm supervisor and tour guide)

nosker house

Nosker House

Poster on one of dorm’s floors

Nosker House

Classrooms located in first floor of dorm for Agriculture program (Bill’s major)

 

The OSU newspaper, The Lantern, carried a two part story on Maj. Nosker and another 449ther:

  1. TheLantern.com/2014/11/bill-nosker-the-man-behind-the-dorm
  2. TheLantern.com/2014/11/a-moment-from-wwii-still-rings-strongly-for-alumnus-doc-allen-70-years-later

The OSU Alumni magazine carried an article on Maj. Nosker:

Underwater Recovery Hanson Crew Site

Underwater Recovery Hanson Crew Site

The Underwater recovery of the Hanson Crew site was concluded on October 12, 2015. The recovery team completed the excavation and closed the site.  Remains were recovered during the excavation.

On October 22, 2015, the Underwater Recovery Team presented plaques to Grado Civil Patrol, Grado Coast Guard, and the Grado Civil Service Office in acknowledgement of their contributions to the recovery of remains.  City officials of Grado, Italy planned a larger press event in connection with the recovery but had to postpone due to the unavailability of the regional Italian Governor.

The remains were to arrive in Omaha, Nebraska on November 4, 2015 where they will be processed.

A short video produced by the recovery team, click to view:

Underwater Recovery Hanson Crew Site

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