Harold H Hendrickson

Military
media-5490.png UPL 5490 A Bomber crew of the 466th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator.

Handwritten on image: 'RG Gordon 279-55.'

The crew went down over Belgium on 20 February 1945. The control cable on B-24H-20-FO #42-50336 "Pale Ale" had snapped. "Pale Ale" was one of the oldest a/c flying with the 466th BG at that time having served for 9 months exactly at the time of her loss

Top Row Left to Right:
2nd Lt Henry Wynia, Bombardier
2nd Lt Jack D Campbell, Co-pilot
2nd Lt Robert G Gordon, Pilot
2nd Lt Ferdinand M Kjar, Navigator
Bottom row, left to right
Richard R Przybylski, Engineer
Harvey H Stamper Jr, Upper Turret Gunner
Harold H Hendrickson, Nose Gunner
Aloysius W McCloskey, Gunner
Sam Kessler, Radio Operator
Barney B Fisher, Tail Gunner

Gordon had left his seat to bail out, then noticed that Kjar and Hendrickson were still in the nose of the plane. He returned to the pilot's controls to try to gain control of the a/c for those two men to bail out. It was to no avail as the men were trapped by centrifugal forces. All three (Gordon, Kjar and Hendrickson were tragically KIA.

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 5490 - A Bomber crew of the 466th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator. Handwritten on image: 'RG Gordon 279-55.' The crew went down over Belgium on...

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-776283
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pale Ale
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA 2 February 1943

Died

Dergneau, 7912 Frasnes-lez-Anvaing, Belgium 20 February 1945

Born

Georgia, USA

Buried

Plot B Row 1 Grave 7 Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Harold H Hendrickson: Gallery (1 items)