Harold Robert Madsen was born on October 5, 1916, in McDonald, Rawlins, Kansas. He was the son of Edward Nicholas Madsen and Matilda Christina Hokenson. He was married to Janette Markham. He served in the 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-24J #42-64462 nicknamed “Stinky the B.T.O.” during World War II.

On February 22, 1944, the B-24J “Stinky the B.T.O.” joined the Regensburg mission during “Big Week.” On the return flight, the bomber was struck by flak and attacked by fighters before exploding in mid-air. It crashed near Wenigzell, Styria, Austria, resulting in the deaths of three crew members, while the remaining seven were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war.

2Lt Madsen was captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft I, Barth-Vogelsang, in Prussia. He ended his military service as First Lieutenant. He died on December 25, 1983, and is now buried in the Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, City and County of Denver, Colorado, USA.

Source of information: 449th.com, aad.archives.gov, ancestors.familysearch.org