The Pilot

 

Indianapolis News. 24 Oct 1944.

Eighty years ago, Guy Hankins was reported missing over Germany. He had become a command pilot of a B-17 bomber. Any descendant of his will want to seek out his military service record. I do not have the details on his service as a pilot, but I'm sure it would be a fascinating read.

In February 1945, Guy was listed as a prisoner of war.

Journal & Courier. 8 Feb 1945.

Guy's name appears in a record on Ancestry as part of the Arolsen Archives collection, titled Europe, Registration of Foreigners and German Persecutees, 1939-1947. This record gives a glimpse into what happened after he was captured in Germany. The record lists his name, date of birth, birth place and indicates it is a medical record from Oberursel. This was a military hospital north of Frankfurt where captured servicemen were given medical attention and interrogated.

The record indicates Guy was captured on 2 October 1944. The word "mittlefußbruch" translates to metatarsal fracture. He was treated at Oberursel between 2 October and 4 November 1944.

Arolsen Archives.

Another document on FamilySearch related to his prisoner of war status indicates Guy was transferred to Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan-Silesia (now Poland). From there, he was moved to a POW camp at Nüremburg-Langwasser. It is not clear when he was freed, but this camp was liberated by the US Army on 16 April 1945.

I cannot comprehend what Guy experienced those six months when he was a prisoner of war. His service record should provide a lot of information on what happened, and would be essential reading for his descendants.

Guy returned home to Thorntown, and married Frances Hungerford on 7 September 1946. Perhaps the photos on my previous post were from Guy's wedding, or prior to his departure for Europe. In the 1950 US Census, Guy and Francis appear in Thorntown. He was working as a grocery store owner.

Guy died on 8 October 2002. According to his obituary, he owned and operated the Hankins Grocery Store in Thorntown for 32 years, retiring in 1980. The obituary mentions surviving children, and notes the numbers of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Perhaps some of them will find this post, and the previous photos and link to his memory-making 1937 West Coast road trip with his cousins.