Harvey Elwood Gann was born on November 28, 1920, in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was the son of William A. Gann and Mattie Beatrice Massey Gann. He was married to Evelyn Jane Sims Gann. He attended Austin High School but left during World War II to work as a dump truck driver, helping with the construction of what would become Bergstrom Air Force Base. In 1941, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and began his military training at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi. He later completed mechanics training in Detroit and aerial gunnery training in Tucson, Arizona. After further processing in Miami, Florida, he was sent overseas for combat service during World War II. He served in the 718th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner of B-24 #41-29217 during World War II.

On January 30, 1944, B-24 Liberator 41-29217 departed its base at Grottaglie, Italy, on a bombing mission against the German-held airfield at Udine in northern Italy. After completing the bombing run, the formation came under heavy attack from German fighters and anti-aircraft fire. The B-24 was severely damaged during the engagement and was observed losing altitude with its right wing burning as enemy fighters continued their attacks. Unable to remain with the formation, the crippled bomber descended toward the northern Adriatic coast and eventually crashed on Morgo Island in the Grado Lagoon, near Grado, Italy. Of the ten airmen aboard, nine were killed, while Staff Sergeant Harvey Gann was the sole survivor and was taken prisoner by German forces.

After landing, Gann was captured by German forces and taken to Stalag Luft VI, where he was held in solitary confinement and interrogated before being transferred to Stalag Luft IV. Refusing to give up his hope of freedom, he made three escape attempts but was recaptured each time. In May 1945, his fourth attempt finally succeeded, and he regained his freedom as the war in Europe drew to a close. After returning to the United States, Gann remained in military service briefly because he had not yet fulfilled the required length of service for discharge. He was assigned to the Air Transport Command, where he worked with surplus aircraft being stored and dismantled and was allowed to fly a B-29 as a flight engineer. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

Gann later began a long career with the Austin Police Department, joining one of the first groups of officers hired and formally trained following World War II. During his 38 years of service, he spent much of his career working in narcotics enforcement. In 1996, Gann published Escape I Must, a memoir documenting his wartime experiences, captivity as a prisoner of war, numerous escape attempts, and his eventual journey to freedom. He died on March 25, 2024, and is now buried in the Walnut Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.dpaa.mil, 449th Bombardment Group Historical Association, www.oaoa.com