Hansard Vell Ardell, Jr.

Name:

Vell Ardell, Jr. Hansard

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-764004

Unit:

600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-11-25

State:

Texas

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England

Plot:

E

Row:

5

Grave:

93

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Vell Ardell Hansard Jr. was born on November 7, 1923, in Hedley, Donley County, Texas. He was the son of Vell Ardell Hansard Sr. and Pearl L Luther Hansard. He was the husband of Ida Mae Robertson Collins. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17 #42-107214 during World War II.

On November 25, 1944, the aircraft crashed near Barkway, Hertfordshire, England, during its return from a bombing mission over Merseburg, Germany. The aircraft encountered severe weather conditions, including heavy fog, significantly reducing visibility. At approximately 17:20, while attempting to land at its home base in Nuthampstead, the bomber crashed into a wooded area near Barkway, resulting in the deaths of three crew members, while the remaining six crew members survived the crash and returned to duty.

1Lt Hansard was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. Vell A. Hansard's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the bottom left wing (section C) and in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 5, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org