Glenn F Hagenbuch

Military

Object Number - UPL 38885

1-May-42 Assigned as a Pilot with the 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. 7-Aug-42 Assigned as Pilot with crew to B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 2-Sep-42 promoted to Captain. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for Sugar".



On 3-Jan-43 he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 427th Bomb Squadron (303BG) following the death of Major Charles C. Sheridan in B-17F 41-24517 "Kali". 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. 30-Mar-43 promoted to Major.



After completing his 25 mission combat tour on 29 June 1943, Major Hagenbuch was made part of a special mission to North Africa and upon his return to England was transferred to the VIII Bomber Command. Shortly thereafter he was killed while flying a P-40 on a short flight in England. He was initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery.



Major Hagenbuch completed a 25-Mission tour on 29-Jun-43.



Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See. Biography events.



SS w/OLC.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13024754 / O-724149
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Group Bombardier
Staff Sergeant Ward W Kirkpatrick, a ball turret gunner of the 303rd Bomb Group, climbs into position inside his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '256543.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"Here we go." Staff Sergent Ward W. Kirkpatrick, a gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, clambers into his gun turret . Aged 19, he comes from 194-5th Avenue West North , Kalispell, Montana, where
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19056037
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: S For Sugar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

12 December 1918 Glenn E. Hagenbuch was born December 12, 1918 in Utica, Illinois. His parents Charles and Cora were also born in Illinois. His father was a farmer. He had one older brother and one younger brother. In 1940 Glenn had completed two years of college and was living with his parents and working on the family farm. Glenn enlisted September 9, 1940 as an aviation cadet and earned his pilot’s wings in April 1941. He was initially assigned to the Ferry Command based in Bangor, Maine. In November 1941, Lt. Hagenbuch was recruited to join the American Volunteer Group, the infamous “Flying Tigers”, which was formed to defend China against Japanese forces prior to the US entry into World War 2. He resigned from the USAAF and was scheduled to fly to Rangoon on December 10, 1941 to join the Flying Tigers, but as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor he was promptly re-inducted into the USAAF and sent back to Bangor. Lt. Hagenbuch was assigned May 1, 1942 as an original member of the 427th Bomb Squadron of the 303rd Bomb Group, flying B-17F Flying Fortress heavy bombers. He married the former Margaret Spaeth of Shoshone, Idaho on September 11, 1942 shortly before the 303rd BG departed the States for England. The 303rd BG began flying daylight bombing missions to France and Germany out of Molesworth, England in November 1942. Lt. Hagenbuch was the pilot of B-17F 41-24619 S-for-Sugar and was promoted to captain in September 1942 and to major in March 1943, serving as the commanding officer of the 427th BS at the ripe old age of 24. On one of his bombing missions, a young war correspondent named Walter Cronkite flew as a combat observer. After completing his 25 mission combat tour on June 29, 1943 Major Hagenbuch was made part of a special mission to North Africa and upon his return to England was transferred to the VIII Bomber Command headquarters. He was awarded the Silver Star medal on May 13, 1943 and an Oak Leaf Cluster to this medal on September 26, 1943. On October 9, 1943 Major Hagenbuch was killed in a non-combat crash while flying a P-40E fighter on a check flight in England. Glenn E. Hagenbuch was initially buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and was later reinterred in Waltham Cemetery in Waltham, Illinois. I could not locate any information regarding his widow Margaret.

Other

Assigned to Unit

Boise, ID, USA 1 May 1942 Assigned as a Pilot to the 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA 7 August 1942 Assigned with crew as Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.

Other

Promoted to Captain

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 2 September 1942 Promotion in rank to Captain.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS.

Other

Mission #1, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Appointed CO of 427BS

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 3 January 1943 Appointed as Squadron Commanding Officer of 303BG/427BS to replace Major, Charles C. Sheridan who was KIA on 3-Jan-43.

Other

Mission #5, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, CPT Glenn E. Hagenbuch, w/B-117F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Promoted to Major

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 30 March 1943 Promoted to the rank of Major.

Other

Awarded the Silver Star

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 13 May 1943 Awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry. Posthumous

Other

Awarded Oak Leaf Cluster

25 September 1943 Awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Silver Star medal. Posthumous.

Died

9 October 1943 Died in an accident flying a P-40E aircraft. Crashed into a garden, 8.5 miles N of Bovingdon airfield.

Buried

Waltham, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA Re-interred Waltham Cemetery

Buried

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified ASN upon entry in 1940 and DFC in 1943. He earned at least one bronze service star on the EAME Campaign Medal.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated date for a Buried event

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated a Buried event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 154271396.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added Glenn E Hagenbuch's name to the digital Roll of Honour in the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154271396/glenn-e.-hagenbuch

Date
Contributorshabbyabbey
Changes
Sources

Author's own Hertfordshire crash records.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added DIed event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Oak Leaf Clusted award event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Awarded SS medal event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Appointed CO event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Appointed CO event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Promoted to Captain event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Completed Summary Biography, added decorations; Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, 303BG Personnel Records: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added NEW Person listing for this airman; Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Missions (through 4-Feb-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, 303BG Personnel Records and 303BG Group and Squadron Commanders page: http://www.303rdbg.com/h-commanders.htm

Glenn F Hagenbuch: Gallery (7 items)