Henry M Farwell
MilitaryNote: Copilot C W Olson and Bombardier Lt J P Dennison.
Rear L-R: H M Farwell, Unknown, Major Gerard T Soper, A N Hillis, E J McDonnell.
Front L-R: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, S/Sgt George W Cheadle.
Henry “Fireball” Farwell, of Milwaukee, enlisted into the USAAF in 1942. With the rank of Technical Sergeant he flew B-26 Marauders (radio operator/gunner) from Great Dunmow, home of the 386th Bomb Group (M) 9th USAAF. Farwell flew 68 combat missions (most of them in the same aircraft, ‘Litljo’). Flying in support of the Normandy Invasion, Litljo was hit by enemy Flak on 15 June, it’s Pilot and Farwell seriously wounded. Farwell describes his own wounds, “....the piece of flak punched a hole in the helmet and knocked it off my head, cutting a deep gash in my scalp. I was unconscious for only a minute or so. I was also hit in my left hip and groin”.
Litljo limped back to England for an emergency landing, it’s right engine and hydraulic system disabled. Crash-landing at Friston, the two wounded were later taken for hospital treatment at Oxford, via a single-engine stretcher plane. Farwell received X-ray treatment for his head wound and apart from receiving stitches was cleared; however his other injuries detained him in hospital for a further three weeks. Litljo fared much worse but despite severe damage was refitted for further service until she was eventually damaged beyond repair later on in the war.
Passed fit for duty, Farwell flew just one more mission before being sent back to the USA to Langly Field, Virginia, where he flew further training missions in B-24’s. He was discharged in July, 1946.
Farwell re-enlisted in March of 1946, making the Air Force his career. For the remainder of his service he worked in air traffic control, serving in Europe during the Berlin Airlift in 1948, and a tour of Vietnam before retiring with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in 1973.
His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (nine subsequent awards) and the Purple Heart (15/6/44).
Farwell's uniform and service dress cap from his service in Vietnam are held in IWM's collection.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Litljo
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 554th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Little Easton