Val R. Hannon was born on February 8, 1914, in Utah. He served in the 427th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner on the B-17 #41-24584 during World War II.

On January 23, 1943, the crew was attacked by German FW-190 fighters during their mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Their plane was shot down by Ltn Melchior Kestel 9./JG26 . All members were able to bail out of their airplane except for 2Lt Moser, who was killed during the attack. Of those nine members who bailed out, six were captured and taken as prisoners (including Sgt Hannon), two evaded German capture, and one member was killed during his parachute descent when he was shot by a hunter. Their airplane crashed at Abbey Pleyben near Edern, France. Sgt Hannon was sent to Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf.

He died on August 19, 1971, at the age of 57. He is now buried in the Monroe City Cemetery, Monroe, Sevier County, Utah, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net