George Marshall Hawkins, Jr., newly liberated prisoner of war, was evacuated from the ETO (European Theater of Operations) to the ZOI on 23 April 1945. He was flown back to the United States, arriving on his home soil on 24 April 1945, and was taken that day to Mitchell Field Station Hospital.

George had spent his days as a POW in a hospital setting from the time of the mid-air collision of 28 September 1944, and he would spend many more months in treatment, recuperation, and rehabilitation in the States.

Post-war Hospitalization

Various military medical records, including a 28 September 1946 Disposition Board Proceedings for Officers, recorded George Hawkins hospitalization and medical procedures history. I have placed these medical record entries in a timeline to show George’s arduous journey to regain his physical health from his mid-air collision injuries.

George arrived at Mitchell Field Station Hospital on 24 April 1945 and evidently spent about four days there, but his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) contains no record of any physical examination or treatment.

On 28 April 1945, George arrived at Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, New York. Halloran General Hospital in New York was the largest Army hospital in the U.S. at the time and was known for orthopedic and reconstructive surgery. A physical examination on admission was recorded as “negative except for limitation of motion of the ankle and knee, left.”

On 8 August 1945, George had an arthrodesis procedure, fusion of the left ankle, and a plaster of Paris cast applied. Records state his “convalescence was uneventful and he was placed on physiotherapy consisting of exercises.”

In one of fellow-POW Frank Furiga’s post-war recordings, he described meeting up with George Hawkins at Halloran General Hospital in August 1945.

Now this man stayed with me at this hospital [at Meiningen] until we were liberated on April 5 of 1945 by the 11th Armored Division of the Third Army Corps. I went to the States via a military hospital at Burford, England. That August, I happened to have a date with a nurse at the Halloran General Hospital on Long Island, New York.

When I had gone to the patient floor to meet the nurse, the director of nursing told me about another patient who had been a prisoner of war in Germany. She mentioned his name and I said that the name Hawkins sounded familiar. He happened to be on this same floor. So we went to the room and it happened to be the same Lieutenant Hawkins from Reserve-Lazaret 9C (b) at Meiningen, Germany. We had a wonderful reunion. He had had some surgery and was progressing nicely. I have not seen or heard from him since.

On 3 October 1945, George’s boot cast with wedging was removed and he was x-rayed. A new boot cast was applied.

On 9 October 1945, a commendation for a promotion for George Hawkins from 1st Lieutenant to Captain was initiated. At the time, he was a patient at Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, New York. The reason for the promotion was that “it is presumed that the subject officer would have been promoted to a higher grade, but for his capture.”

On 23 October 1945, George Hawkins was promoted to Captain.

On 1 February 1946, George had a tumor the size of “half a small lemon” of the left breast excised. The pathological report showed non-malignant chronic mastitis in the breast.

On 28 February 1946, George was a patient at the Army Air Force Convalescent Center in Miami, Florida.

George Marshall Hawkins, Jr’s National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) POW record indicates his Latest Report Date as 4 April 1946. I am not sure exactly what this date signifies other than that perhaps up until that date, George was still classified as a prisoner of war.

On 9 April 1946, George Marshall Hawkins was suspended from flying status indefinitely following information received from the Flight Surgeon, AAF Regional & Convalescent Hospital, Coral Gables, Florida, in a letter dated 6 March 1946. The reason was fractures, multiple, of left fibula and tibia involving left ankle and knee, incurred in mid-air collision, 28 September 1944, over Magdeburg, Germany.

On 1 May 1946, George was a patient at Halloran General Hospital.

On 20 June 1946, George had a quadriplasty [quadriceplasty] of the knee (a surgical procedure required to release the quadriceps muscle in order to improve the range of knee flexion). Records note “convalescence was uneventful and he was again placed on physiotherapy.”

On 12 August 1946, x-rays showed a “marked narrowing of the joint space of the left knee and roughening of the patella. X-ray showed the graft of the ankle to be well fused. He still has marked limitation of motion of the knee. He was seen by the Chief of Orthopedics who recommended his appearance before a disposition board.”

In a 9 October 1946 letter, a doctor who examined George Hawkins suggested he have a knee fusion. George, however, wanted to preserve any motion of the knee, which at current was only ten degrees. The doctor suggested George be “discharged from the Army with his proper physical disability rating and then at his own discretion he can consult an orthopedic surgeon under provisions made by the Veterans Administration. He can determine at that time whether he wants to have surgery done or not.”

In an 11 October 1946 “Proceedings of Army Retiring Board for Officers,” Captain George  M. Hawkins, Jr. was determined to be permanently incapacitated for active service. The cause of his permanent incapacitation was,

Deformity of left leg, moderate, chronic, manifested by rage of motion of knee 175 degrees to 176 degrees, and ankylosis, bony, complete, ankle, secondary to dislocation, simple, incomplete, anterior tibia at knee and dislocation, simple, incomplete, tarsus, left, accidentally incurred 28 September 1944 in accidental collision of two planes, one in which officer was a navigator over Magdeburg, Germany.

Oddly and incorrectly, an entry on the form noted that his disability was,

Not combat incurred or result of explosion of instrumentality of war in LOD (line of duty).

As part of the proceedings, Hawkins was asked if he desired to be relieved from active service. His response was that he desired further hospitalization to see if his knee could be freed. When asked if he was not qualified for active service, would he want to remain in the Army on active duty in a limited service capacity. He responded that he desired to be separated.

The board determined that no further treatment, hospitalization, or convalescence in that hospital, a specialized general hospital, or any other medical facility was indicated at the time, or that any further surgical procedure would improve his condition, or that his condition would improve in time. It was determined that he had a permanent incapacity and he would not improve. He had only a ten degree of motion of the left knee. He could not do a knee bend. He had difficulty walking down steps.

George was asked if he had any questions and he again requested further hospitalization and surgery to see if something could be done about his knee. The response was that he had seen numerous orthopedic surgeons and their opinion was that no further surgery would benefit his knee and that he had been advised not to have any further surgery.

George was also asked to tell the board the nature and cause of his disability as he understood it. He responded,

I had a mid-air collision in Germany. I sustained a fracture and dislocation of the left ankle and left knee joint on 28 September 1944. Now I have a fracture, fused left ankle, and an ankylosed left knee.

In the part of the proceedings where a medical officer was questioned as a witness, they did state that “the officer’s disability was incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States and did result from an explosion of an instrumentality of war in line of duty.”

Had the error in recording that his injury was “Not combat incurred or result of explosion of instrumentality of war in LOD (line of duty)” complicated George’s Veterans’ Benefits? I do not know, but in a much later letter dated 14 April 1953, the military’s Disability Separation Branch wrote to the Commanding General of the Air Force Finance Center to clarify/correct that,

The disability for which Captain Hawkins’ retirement was based was incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States and was the result of an explosion of an instrumentality of war in line of duty.

On 14 October 1946, George was a patient at Halloran General Hospital, 9960th TSU – SGO, Staten Island, New York. Special Orders 250, noted for Capt. George M. Hawkins, Jr., that he was granted 30 days of sick leave effective 15 October 1946.

On 12 November 1946, George Hawkins wrote a letter requesting information about a promotion regarding Sec. VIII, WD Circular 215 (1946). He stated that he received a POW promotion since his return to the Zone of the Interior (the United States) and asked if the POW promotion made him ineligible for a promotion under the new 18-months hospitalization ruling. He noted that as of the date of his letter, he was still hospitalized. He had been hospitalized in the States since his return in April 1945.

On 14 November 1946, George was a patient at Halloran General Hospital, 9960th TSU – SGO, Staten Island, New York. Special Orders 276, noted for Capt. George M. Hawkins, Jr., that he was granted 15 days of sick leave.

On 20 November 1946, George was a patient at Halloran General Hospital, 9960th TSU – SGO, Staten Island, New York. Special Orders 281, noted for Capt. George M. Hawkins, Jr., stated (in part),

Following officers are granted leave of absence as indicated effective 21 November 1946. DP each officer is relieved from further observation and treatment and from attached unassigned Det Pnts this hospital and are transferred attached unassigned Sep Det this station for separation processing … on which date they will revert to inactive status by reason of physical disability.

In the special order, George Hawkins’ Period of Leave was 60 days to terminate 19 January 1947 to return to his home of record at 52 Burchard St., Fords, New Jersey.

George had been hospitalized stateside for 635 days at the point the Army Air Forces discharged him on 19 January 1947.

Release from WWII Military Service

George Marshall Hawkins, Jr.’s Separation Qualification Record notes his Date of Separation as 18 January 1946, however, his Military Record and Report of Separation/Certificate of Service notes his Date of Relief from Active Duty as 19 January 1947. Both note the Halloran GH SI NY (Halloran General Hospital in New York ) as his Place of Separation.

Honorable Discharge and Military Record and Report of Separation

George Hawkins’ separation record listed his Military History of,

• His Grade was Captain
• His Date of Entry into Active Service was 17 July 1941
• His Date of Entry on Active Duty was 8 April 1944 (date of Navigator School graduation)
• His Date of Separation was 18 January 1946 on his Separation Qualification Record
• His Date of Relief from Active Duty (Discharge Date) was 19 January 1947
• His Place of Separation was Halloran GH SI NY.
• Military Occupational Specialty and No. – Navigator 1034
• Battles and Campaigns – Central Europe GO 48. WD 45. Southern France GO 33 WD 45. Northern France GO 103, WD 45. Rhineland GO 118 WD 45.
• Decorations and Citations – American Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon, Purple Heart, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, European Theater Ribbon and 4 Battle Stars. Additionally, Good conduct medal and Asiatic-Pacific from other sources.
• Wounds Received in Action – Over Magdeburg, Germany, 28 September 1944
• Service Schools Attended – Pilot Training School. Navigation School.
• Reason and Authority for Separation – Physical Reclassification Cir 313
• Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return – listed below…
• Total Length of Continental Service – 1 year, 11 months, and 16 days
• Total Length of Foreign Service – 0 years, 9 months, and 24 days
• Remarks – On terminal leave taken from 21 November 1946 to 19 January 1947.

Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return

This record includes only George’s commissioned service, not his enlisted service, and reports George’s commissioned foreign service in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) as from 30 June 1944 to 24 April 1945.

• Departure from U.S.
  • Date of Departure 30 Jun 44
  • Destination ETO
  • Date of Arrival 5 Jul 44
• Departure from ETO
  • Date of Departure 23 April 45
  • Destination USA
  • Date of Arrival 24 April 45

George Hawkins’ Separation Record noted his Military Occupational Assignments,

• 6 months, 2nd Lt, Navigator (1034)
• 12 months, 1st Lt, Navigator (1034)
• 13 months, Captain, Navigator (1034)

The Summary of his Military Occupations noted,

• NAVIGATOR – Served overseas with the 384th Bomb Group, 545th Squadron in the ETO. Performed 19 missions over France and Germany. Was wounded in action over Germany on 28 Sep 1944 and awarded the Purple Heart. Thru efficiency in combat was awarded the air medal with 2 oak leaf clusters. Navigated B-17, performed the duties assigned as “lead navigator.”

George Hawkins’ Military Education (combined with more detail from other documentation) noted,

• From 20 September 1938 to 6 June 1940, R.O.T.C. (University of Georgia), Rank Cpl
• Pre-flight (Pilot), SAAAB (Santa Ana Army Air Base), Santa Ana, California, 2 1/4 months, 6 February 1943 to 20 May 1943, Aviation Cadet
• Primary (Pilot), Thunderbird Field, Glendale/Phoenix, Arizona, 2 1/2 months, from 21 May 1943 to 26 July 1943, Aviation Cadet
• Basic (Pilot), Minter Field, California, 2 1/2 months, from 28 July 1943 to 30 September 1943, Aviation Cadet
• Adv. S.E. (Pilot), Luke Field, Arizona, not successfully completed, 1 October 1943 to 12 November 1943, Aviation Cadet
• Adv. Navigation, Hondo, Texas, 4 1/2 months, completed, from 5 December 1943 to 8 April 1944 (graduation)
• B-17 Combat Crew, AAF Sta. 172, Ardmore, Oklahoma, 10 days, completed 23 June 1944

Additional Information noted,

Awarded the ETO ribbon with 4 bronze stars, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre ribbon, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 2 clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre ribbon and the Victory ribbon.

Return to Civilian Life

On 16 October 1944, Major General J.A. Ulio, the Adjutant General, followed up George Hawkins’ Missing in Action telegram with a letter. Similar letters to other next-of-kin family members of both the Buslee and Brodie crews were written between 15 and 17 October. Major General Ulio confirmed that George was missing in action and wrote that he would pass along additional information when it was received or within at least three months.

On 22 November 1944, Major E.A. Bradunas wrote to George Hawkins’ father, stating similar information that was imparted to the Henson family, but not until 8 December,

Further information has been received indicating that Lieutenant Hawkins was a crew member of a B-17 (Flying Fortress) bomber which departed from England on a combat mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on September 28^th. Full details are not available, but the report indicates that during this mission at about 12:10 p.m., in the target area, our planes were subjected to enemy antiaircraft fire and your son’s bomber sustained damage. Subsequently, the disabled craft dropped out of formation, fell into a spin and disappeared into the clouds. Inasmuch as further observation of this aircraft was impracticable, the crew members of accompanying planes were unable to furnish any other details relative to its loss.

In George’s previously mentioned letter in Part 2 to Frank Furiga, his “account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany,” George continued with information about his hospitalization and internment following his capture by the Germans after the mid-air collision.

Magdeburg

I remained here in the city for the remainder of the year [1944] … in the prison ward at the hospital while undergoing surgery and in the balcony of an old theatre where they housed several hundred injured from many nations. On October 6th they attempted to set my broken leg but an air raid interrupted their efforts and I came out of the anesthetic in the basement air raid shelter … the leg still not set. They finally got the job done on the 12th … and that deserves a little comment.

A Colonel, the chief of Surgery, at the hospital returned from leave the day before my second attempt at leg repair … he had just buried his wife and children who had been killed in an air raid. He needed to get back to work following his tragic experience and he found me. He decided he would perform the operation himself and did so … without anesthesia. I filed charges against him with the War Crimes Commission at a later date but nothing ever came of it. Magdeburg is still in the Russian zone. But, needless to say, POW time from that point on was a piece of cake.

In late November, I was returned to the hospital with a knee infection. The plaster cast was removed and they found a real mess. The leg would probably have to come off. But a young captain took charge and did a beautiful job. I’ve never been able to bend my knee since then but the leg is still there.

Military medical records in George’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) state that on 22 November 1944, he had an incisional drainage, abscess of the knee.

George noted in his post-war undated “Statement or Report of Interview with Recovered Personnel,” that while a prisoner of war, he,

Performed no duties, with one exception, as I was an ambulatory case in Magdeburg, I communicated with the British Man of Confidence at the local Stalag in regards to Red Cross parcel distribution. Advised British Medical Aid Man in Charge in clothing distribution.

On 6 November 1944, George wrote his father a letter conveying that he was in a German Prison Camp (Stalag XIA) and was is in the hospital being cared for by a French doctor and he was wearing a cast, which would be removed in a week. George also wrote two postcards to his father, dated 13 and 20 November.

George’s father did not receive the letter or postcards until 18 January 1945. A Battle Casualty Report confirms George Hawkins as a POW in Stalag 11A. Possibly, the hospital at Magdeburg was under the administration of Stalag XIA.

On 12 January 1945, George Hawkins began his transfer to the next hospital with an interrogation stop near Frankfort, Germany, travelling for two days.

Dulag Luft and Hohemark – 14 January to 17 January 1945

George arrived at the Frankfort railroad station on 14 January 1945. He spent the night at the railroad station, then was transported to Dulag Luft on 15 January, and to Hohemark Hospital on 16 January.

Dulag Luft was what the POWs called the German “Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe” or “Transit Camp of the Luftwaffe.” It was known as the greatest interrogation center in all of Europe and was located at Oberursel, about eight miles northwest of Frankfurt.

In George’s previously mentioned letter in Part 2 to Frank Furiga, his “account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany,” George continued with information about his hospitalization and internment.

DULOG LUFT & HALL MARK [DULAG LUFT AND HOHEMARK]

I departed from Magdeburg on January 12th and arrived in Frankfort two days later. I spent the night at the railroad station in a dungeon-like room about forty feet under ground and rode in a trolley car and a truck to Dulog Luft. A very short interrogation then up to Hall Mark the following day. I remember my interrogator who once worked for Western Electric and took bus 18 out of Newark each morning on his way to work. I had to admit that I didn’t know very much about Newark, New Jersey. I guess he just wanted to be friendly … right? One day later and we were on a hospital train to Obermassfeld.

In post-war documents, George also wrote of riding on a bus as one mode of his POW transportation between places in addition to the train rides and this mention of a trolley car and truck.

The Luftwaffe had taken over the Oberursel installation as a transit camp / interrogation center in December 1939. To meet the need for treatment for POWs who would need medical attention, camp authorities requisitioned part of Hohemark Hospital, one mile west of the interrogation center. The hospital ward for POWs was on one floor and was comprised of several rooms with sixty-five beds.

On 17 January 1945, George Hawkins was on a hospital train to Obermassfeld.

Stalag IX-C (9C), Obermassfeld (Reserve-Lazaret IX C (a)) – 18 January to 25 January 1945

According to a Wikipedia article about Stalag IX C and its associated hospitals, this POW camp was for Allied soldiers during WWII, rather than airmen. A large hospital, Reserve-Lazaret IX C (a), and a smaller hospital, Reserve-Lazaret IX C (b), were under Stalag IX C administration.

Obermassfeld Hospital #1249 served Stalag IX C (9-C) and was located in Obermassfeld (Obermaßfeld), Thuringia, Germany. Obermassfeld was the larger hospital under the administration of Stalag IX C, known as Reserve-Lazaret IX C(a). It was in a three-story stone building that was previously a Strength Through Joy hostel and was operated by British, Canadian, and New Zealand medical staff.

George Hawkins arrived at Obermassfeld on 18 January 1945 and spent one week there as a POW / patient.

In George’s previously mentioned letter in Part 2 to Frank Furiga, his “account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany,” George continued with information about his hospitalization and internment.

OBERMASSFELD

Arrived here on the 18th of January. The British doctors took xrays and I finally got a full understanding of my physical condition … for the first time. Here I met a number of people who I’m sure you knew also … Irving Metzger (no fingers) and T.S. McGee from Mississippi … the chaplain. McGee, George Brandon and I came out together … we toured Paris together. One week later, on January 25th, I was moved over to Meiningen.

Note: the Paris comments are regarding George’s stay in Paris following his liberation.

After receiving his son’s letter and postcards (written in November 1944) on 18 January 1945, George Hawkins’ father wrote to the Army Air Forces the next day, 19 January, informing them that he had heard from his son and telling them where George stated he was being held prisoner, German Prison Camp (Stalag XIA). Of course, by this date, George was no longer at Stalag XIA. He was at Obermassfeld, Reserve-Lazaret IX C (a), of Stalag IX-C, and soon to be moved again.

On 30 January 1945, Major E.A. Bradunas replied to George’s father’s letter. Major Bradunas stated that the military had not received a report that would “indicate that your son is in a German Prison Camp,” but that “we rejoice with you that you have received word directly from your son.”

It was the smaller hospital in Meiningen, Reserve-Lazaret IX C (b), where George Hawkins would spend the remainder of his captivity, another 2 3/4 months, during World War II. George had arrived on 25 January 1945 and years later, Frank Furiga, who was already a POW / patient at Meiningen, recorded his memory of meeting up with George Hawkins as POWs.

One evening, January 25th to be exact, we were sitting around at our ward tables playing cards, etc. There was a commotion as a new bunch of patients arrived. I looked at one man in particular and gasped. Here was George Hawkins from the 384th Bomb Group, a Navigator. The last time I saw him was when I was still riding in the tail of the Lead Planes. It was September 28th and we went to Magdeburg. It was a tough mission. George was the Navigator on the [Brodie-Vevle] crew and they collided coming off the target with the [Buslee-Albrecht] crew.

In George’s previously mentioned letter in Part 2 to Frank Furiga, his “account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany,” George also shared his memories from their time spent at Meiningen,

MEININGEN

Here we joined forces, Frank … so there is little I can tell you that you don’t already know. I do have a few dates [from 1945] noted so I will jot them down and see if they ring any bells:

• February 23, Bombing by USAF
• March 2, Bombing by RAF
• March 24, US fighter planes overhead
• March 26, Group of ambulatory POWs moved out of camp to the East, away from approaching allied troops. Group included Marty Horwitz and William Griffin.
• March 30, Shelling
• April 1, Guards gone. We have taken over the camp
• April 2, Obermassfeld liberated
• April 4, German guards returned by order of local commander
• April 5, LIBERATED by 11th Armored
• April 10, Departed camp

Liberation and Repatriation

On 8 May 1998, Frank Furiga shared his memories of the liberation and evacuation of the POW Hospital at Meiningen, Germany in a recording, which his son Paul shared with me. (Note: Frank’s dates and days of the week don’t properly align with the 1945 calendar, but I am publishing his story as he told it. In 1945, Easter was Sunday, 1 April.)

We had Easter services and there was a certain tenseness among all of us. We were all asked to come downstairs in the early evening and the Germans told us that they were turning the hospital over to us. Only the Chefarzt [physician in charge] was staying. He told us that we would have to protect ourselves against the civilians just in case some had ideas of vengeance. He asked we go back to our wards and await further developments. Some of the men had gone out and “liberated” guns from the local folks, how I don’t know.

On Monday, April 3rd, we learned that Obermassfeld had been liberated. That night there were a lot of heavy guns firing in the near distance. The German area commander had ordered our guards back to the hospital.

On Tuesday, the 4th, we were told that an observer had been placed in the top of the hospital tower to watch for the advancing Americans. A siren would sound and we were to go to the wine cellars.

Early on the morning of Wednesday the 5th, just after breakfast the siren sounded. We all went down to the wine cellars in an orderly group. Someone said they could see German civilians running for the air raid shelter. There was some mortar and machine gun fire but not cannons.

Around 2:30, someone shouted that American tanks were heading towards the hospital. We all ran upstairs and into the courtyard. I had just arrived to see a lead American tank come through the fence and stop. A major jumped down and he was immediately grabbed and hugged by our men. We learned that this was the 11th Armored Division of Patton’s 3rd Army.

Soldiers eventually came into the hospital proper and inventoried our food supply. They brought in lots of K-rations, a welcome change after our prisoner fare. A day later, the 26th Infantry Division came to the area. They brought in a large supply of potatoes much better than we had. They also “liberated” the brewery bringing many types of alcoholic beverages. There was a lot of celebrating going on and soon senior officers called a halt to that and the beverages were put under control.

It was such a relief to go to bed that night and know that the German Army in our area had been put down. Within a few days, the 26th Infantry Division had to move on and we had the 71st Infantry Division move into the area. We had a chance to visit with them and they were much interested in our stories. We now also had some fresh white bread brought in. It was a welcome change over the “ Soldaten Brot” which had been made with sawdust for storage purposes and we ate every day. The men of the 71st brought in lots of sabers and swords liberated. Also some of the men got some very fine German cameras, watches and other trivia.

On Sunday, the 9th we were told that we would be moving out via ambulances the next day. We were loaded early in the morning and were driven to a U.S. Army Field Hospital near Nidda, close to Frankfurt. We had a steak dinner that evening with all of the fixings. The white bread tasted like cake after what we had eaten before.

Here we would be loaded aboard C-47ʼs and flown to American Hospitals in England.

Here is where Frank Furiga and George Hawkins parted ways. Frank was flown to England while George was flown to Paris. Frank’s account continues here, with George’s path described next. Frank said,

I was in two hospitals in England because the first one we got to closed the very next day. The 2nd one was at Burford. They gave us good care,the nurses were superb and the doctors were understanding. I was there 3 weeks. I called my brother Michael with the Medical Corps down near Reading and he came to visit me the next day. I didnʼt have a penny to my name and he had to loan me money.

A group of us were sent up to a Prestwick, Scotland hospital to await a flight home. We flew through Iceland and New foundland via a C- 54 to Mitchell Field, Long Island. They told me since I was a POW, they would fly me to any hospital in the U.S.A. I asked for Deshon General at Butler, Pennsylvania.

They flew me to Pittsburgh and via an ambulance, I arrived at Deshon. By then it was May 16th. I was given a 30 day leave immediately to visit with my mother and two sisters. I went to Pawling, New York then and finally to Greensboro, North Carolina for discharge.

In a future post, I will cover Frank’s own story of how he became a POW in Germany.

In George’s previously mentioned letter in Part 2 to Frank Furiga, his “account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany,” George continued with information about his post-liberation movements,

POST MEININGEN

The ambulance convoy out of Meiningen took us to Hanau (94th Medical), then 58th Field hospital (?) and then it was a C47 to Paris (48th General) on April 12th … then back to the U.S. on April 23rd.

In his letter to Frank Furiga, George Marshall Hawkins noted his Liberation Date as 5 April 1945. He was liberated by the 11th Armored Division of Patton’s 3rd Army at Stalag IX-C (9C), Meiningen (Reserve-Lazaret IX C (b)). The larger hospital of Stalag IX-C at Obermassfeld (Reserve-Lazaret IX C (a)) was also liberated by the U.S. 11th Armored Division.

George departed Meiningen on 10 April 1945 by ambulance convoy. George’s first stop was the 94th Medical at Hanau, Germany, then to the 58th Field Hospital in Germany on 11 April 1945. He was then moved by C47 to the 48th General Hospital in Paris on 12 April.

On 18 April 1945, George received his transfer orders to the ZOI – Zone of Interior (United States of America). He was evacuated to the ZOI on 23 April 1945. He was repatriated on 24 April 1945 when he arrived back in the United States and was taken that day to Mitchell Field Station Hospital.

To be continued…

Continued from George Marshall Hawkins, Jr., Update – Part 1

Combat Duty with the 384th Bomb Group

George Marshall Hawkins, Jr.’s 384th Bomb Group Individual Sortie record indicates that his duty was Navigator, one month’s pay was $247.50, and his home address was Mr. George M. Hawkins, 52 Burchard St., Fords, N.J.

George was credited with nineteen missions with the 384th Bomb Group, for which he earned an Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. His first mission was on 7 August 1944 and his last was on 28 September 1944.

Morning Reports of the 384th Bombardment Group and other military documents indicate the following for George Marshall Hawkins, Jr.

• On 26 JULY 1944, 2nd Lt. George Marshall Hawkins, Jr. was assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #148 dated 26 July 1944 as a Navigator with the MOS (military occupational specialty) of 1034, of the James Joseph Brodie crew.
• On 28 SEPTEMBER 1944, on Mission 201 to Magdeburg, Germany (Target was Industry, Steelworks), George Marshall Hawkins went from duty to MIA (Missing in Action). He was subsequently declared POW (Prisoner of War).

Mid-air Collision

George Marshall Hawkins, Jr. was aboard B-17 42-31222 Lazy Daisy with the Brodie crew on 28 September 1944 when their B-17 collided over Magdeburg, Germany with the Buslee crew’s B-17 43-37822. George was one of only three men aboard Lazy Daisy to survive and became a prisoner of war.

Hawkins wrote what he knew of the accident after he returned home from the war in 1945. His account, as follows, is included in the Missing Air Crew Report, MACR9366:

Following “Bombs away” at our target over Magdeburg, Germany, our B17-G and another ship in our formation collided. At the time of the accident our plane was in good condition with nothing more than light flak damage. As far as I know, all men on board were uninjured.

At the time of the collision, the front section of our nose was carried away, and with it, the nose gunner, S/Sgt Byron L. Atkins. The plane seemed to be flying straight and level for a very few seconds and then fell off into a spin. I managed to break out of the right side of the nose just behind the right nose gun.

Floating downward I saw an opened but empty chute. Leading me to believe that Atkins’ chute was pulled open at the time of the accident or by him later. However, because of the position of the chute I think the chute must have been opened following a free fall of a few thousand feet and then, because of damage or faulty hook-up, failed to save its occupant.

Following my own free fall, our ship was circling above me. It was then in a flat spin, burning. It passed me and disappeared into the clouds below. When I next saw the ship it was on the ground. While floating downward, I saw one other chute below me.

I landed a mile or so from the town of Erxleben, Germany…west of Magdeburg. The plane landed within two or three miles of me. Many civilians and the military there saw the incident.

The following evening I met two members of the crew…the waist gunner, Sgt. Liniger, and the tail gunner, Sgt. Miller. Sgt. Liniger said he was attempting to escape through the waist door when an explosion threw him from the ship. At that time Sgt. Miller said the tail assembly left the ship and he later chuted from the tail section.

To the best of my knowledge, All other five members of the crew were at their positions on the plane and failed to leave the ship. All were uninjured up till the time of the collision.

A 384th Bomb Group bombardier, Frank Furiga, was flying as an observer in the tail gunner position of B-17 43‑38542, the Low Group lead on the mission. He witnessed the mid-air collision and wrote about it, saying,

I was horrified to see the plane of our very good friends, John Buslee and David Albrecht collide with the Brodie-Vevle plane and they immediately went into death spirals and I could see no parachutes.

Frank later noted that Brodie’s B-17 collided with Buslee’s in one telling, saying,

As we dropped our bombs and made a tight right turn off the target, I saw a Fortress suddenly slacking its speed and then drop like a rock and smash into the plane of Lieutenant Buslee. The entwined fortresses went into a dance of death.

But in another telling, in 1979, Frank Furiga wrote a letter to Quentin Bland in which he described the mid-air collision this way,

George was a Navigator in the Jim Brodie-Vevle plane and a plane piloted by John Buslee and David Albrecht dropped down and into them colliding in midair and both planes went down. I was riding that day as Tail Observer and I can close my eyes and still visualize it since it was such an impact on my mind. For the longest time, we thought no one had gotten out until I met Hawkins at Meiningen, Germany.

George Hawkins and Frank Furiga were held prisoner of war together at the same POW hospital and maintained a friendship after the war. Some time after Christmas 1983, George Hawkins wrote the following in a letter to Frank Furiga, “an account of my 1944-45 visit to Germany.”

September 28, 1944

Following ‘Bombs away’ and while making a shallow formation turn to starboard, our lead ship suddenly racked up into a tight right turn … so abrupt that my pilot(s) were forced to increase the bank of the turn and pull up over the lead ship to avoid a collision. Ship #3 (flying the lead ship’s left wing) increased its bank and, riding high in turn, probably went to ‘full throttle’ in an attempt to catch up to the lead ship. Unfortunately, we were also high, in a tight turn, and playing catch up.

Standing at my position, I watched as #3 came right down our flight path and we had impact … their pilot compartment coming right up into our ship’s belly. I’m sure they had the lead ship in sight but never saw us at all. We must have been just above the co-pilot’s view through his starboard window. As soon as I spotted them coming in I hit the mike button and yelled to Brodie and Vevle to pull up, but as I talked the nose cabin deck buckled up under me, and I was pinned to the starboard side of the ship just forward of the inboard engine. On impact, our togglier and the Plexiglas nose disappeared.

I fought to free myself but to no avail … the wreckage and the air pouring into the opening in the nose made any movement impossible. Shortly thereafter the ship fell off into a spin and we started down. I can only assume that my body weight increased due to the centrifugal force build up … and this coupled with the structural damage suffered by the nose section led to a rupture of the air frame … and I was sucked out of the ship and was able to make use of my chute. I landed at Erxleben, a small town northwest of Magdeburg.

One added note: I flew all my missions using a chest chute. I wore the harness and hung the chute pack on the fire wall near my station. A day or two prior to the Magdeburg flight I had myself fitted for a back pack … one that fitted so tightly and was very uncomfortable to wear during a long flight. Well, I had it on that day. I have never been able to remember why I made the change, but I will always be thankful that I did.

It does not sound as if George Hawkins was aware that their B-17 almost collided with the Gross-Storey B-17 43‑38548 before making contact with the Buslee-Albrecht Fortress. Wallace Storey said,

We found ourselves on a crossing course with another Group and just after “bombs away” the lead ship made a sharp descending right turn. Our high element, being on the inside of this steep turn, had to move quickly by reducing power while climbing slightly. Glancing to my right, I saw that “Lazy Daisy” [the Brodie-Vevle B-17] was sliding toward me. I pulled back on the control column to climb out of her path while keeping my eye on the #2 ship of the lead element, Lt. Buslee in #337 [43-37822], on whose wing our element was flying. I yelled to Gross to watch for him to come out on the other side and, sure enough, he slid under us and right into Buslee in the lead element.

I watched the two planes as they collided. It cut #337 [43-37822] in half and the wings on #222 [42-31222] folded up and both planes fell in a fireball.

Read Wallace Storey’s full account of the mid-air collision in post September 28, 1944 – Wallace Storey.

Another airman, Ronald H. Froebel, flying as an observer in the tail gunner position of B-17 44‑8007 Screaming Eagle, the Wing Lead on the mission, wrote,

Two ships in the high group, Brodie & Buslee, which were involved in the collision appeared to have been caught in prop wash on a turn to the left. It appeared that Brodie was thrown down and into Buslee one plane, immediately disintegrated and the [other] broke into at the ball turret and finally caught fire and broke up. I observed one chute.

Many more details of the incident, including eye-witness accounts, have been covered in these previous posts,

• MISSION 201
• What Happened in the Skies Over Magdeburg? Part 1
• What Happened in the Skies Over Magdeburg? Part 2

Regardless of the details of the mid-air collision, sadly two B-17s of the 384th Bomb Group were “knocked down,” as my dad would say. Four airmen, including George Marshall Hawkins, Jr., became prisoners of war and fourteen lost their lives.

The 1930 Federal census reports that by 1930, the Hawkins family had moved to William Street in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. George Jr. was now eleven years old and was still recorded as Marshall. In this year’s census record, Mildred recorded that both of her parents were born in Austria.

The 1940 Federal census reports that by 1935, the Hawkins family had moved to 52 Burchard Street in Raritan Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, and were still living in the same house in 1940. George Jr. was now twenty-one and in college. George Sr. was working as a foreman of a chemical factory (specifically Heyden Chemical Corporation in Fords, New Jersey in 1940 according to his WWII draft registration card).

Note: The Hawkins’ home address of 52 Burchard St. was sometimes written as in Raritan Township, New Jersey, and sometimes written as in Fords, New Jersey. An entry in Wikipedia suggests that, “The area as originally known as Fords Corner abuts neighboring Edison, part of which was once within Woodbridge Township, until an act of legislature in April of 1870 apportioned land to then called Raritan Township.” The location, as associated with either name of Raritan Township or Fords, is the same and is in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Education and Civilian Employment prior to Military Service

George Hawkins graduated from Metuchen High School in Metuchen, New Jersey in June 1938. Metuchen did not offer any courses in military instruction. He lettered in high school sports and was also a member of the YMCA and Boy Scouts.

George Hawkins attended University of Georgia for three years, from 1938 to 1941, with a major in Journalism. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and participated in the sports of football, tennis, and volleyball. He also participated in R.O.T.C. at University of Georgia, with two years (20 September 1938 to 6 June 1940) of Cavalry basic and also Civil Pilot Training (completed basic flight training), attaining the rank of Corporal.

George Hawkins left University of Georgia in 1941 for military service in WWII.

Entry into WWII Military Service

Draft Registration

On 16 October 1940, George Marshall Hawkins, Jr. registered for the WWII draft (on the same date that William Barnes, the Brodie crew bombardier, registered). The registrar was noted as “Dem. Sch. Clarke, Georgia” but was stamped with the New Jersey local board stamp of Local Board No. 2 for Middlesex County, Raritan Township, Municipal Building Lindeneau, R.D. 19, New Brunswick, New Jersey. This indicates to me that George actually registered while he was attending University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, although the “Local Board having jurisdiction of the registrant” was of his home address in New Jersey.

George listed his place of residence as 52 Burchard St., Raratan Township, Middlesex, New Jersey, but crossed it out and entered a “New Address” of 398 South Milledge Ave., Athens, GA. George’s Employer’s Name was University of Georgia, Student and place of employment was Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. He was 21 years old and born on 26 November 1918 in New York, New York.

George Marshall Hawkins (George Jr’s father) of 52 Burchard St., Raratan Township, Middlesex, New Jersey was the person who would always know his address.

George Hawkins, Jr. described himself as 5′ 10″ tall, 160 pounds, with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a light complexion. He noted no “other obvious physical characteristic that will aid in identification.”

Order to Report for Induction

George Hawkins received an order to report for induction on 7 July 1941, having been selected for training and service in the Army. He was instructed to report to the Municipal Building, Raritan Township, Plainfield & Woodbridge Avenues at 7:00 A.M. on 17 July 1941.

Enlistment/Induction

On 17 July 1941, George Hawkins enlisted in the Army at Trenton, New Jersey. George’s enlistment record notes his residence as Middlesex County, New Jersey, and that he was born in New York in 1918. His Army Serial Number at the time of enlistment was 32159744. At the time of his enlistment, George Hawkins had completed 3 years of college and was single, having no one dependent on him for support. Note: Officers were reassigned with a new serial number when they were commissioned and George’s later become O-719944.

George Hawkins was inducted into the Army on 17 July 1941 at Trenton, New Jersey, almost five months before the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Initial Military Assignments

After his induction into the Army, George was sent to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, and was attached to Company B, 1229 R.C. Ft. Dix, New Jersey, from 17 July 1941 to 24 July 1941. He was appointed Private upon his induction on 17 July 1941.

On 25 July 1941, he was assigned to Battery L, 96th Coast Artillery A.A., Camp Davis, North Carolina. On 20 October 1941, George was appointed Private First Class (PFC).

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

A couple of months following the attack, George Hawkins was transferred to Hawaii to serve with the Army. On 27 February 1942, George Hawkins left the U.S. for Hawaii, arriving on 10 March 1942. He began his foreign service with the 96th Coast Artillery at Hilo Army Air Base. Upon his arrival on 10 March, George was stationed at Hilo Airport with duty as a Central Control Operator. The assignment with Battery L of the 96th Coast Artillery continued until 4 January 1943.

On 9 September 1942, while serving in Hilo, T.H. (Territory of Hawaii), George Marshall Hawkins, Jr. applied to the Commanding General of the 7th Air Force at Hickham Field, Oahu, T.H. for enlistment in the Army Air Corps and immediate appointment as an Aviation Cadet for Air Crew training (Flying duty). He noted his current address as Battery L, 96th CA (AA), Hilo, Hawaii, T.H.

George was appointed as Aviation Cadet on 4 January 1943.

From 4 January 1943 to 6 February 1943, George’s assignment was as an Aviation Cadet stationed at HQ & HQ SQ 2st AF, Cadet Detachment, Hickam Field T.H. (Territory of Hawaii).

Military Training

On 25 January 1943, George left the territory of Hawaii and arrived back in the U.S. on 2 February 1943 for Aviation Cadet training “Project R.” George’s time in Hawaii was considered foreign service as, at the time, Hawaii was a territory and not yet a state.

George Hawkins attended and passed AAF Preflight School (Pilot) at SAAAB (Santa Ana Army Air Base), Santa Ana, California. He attended the 2 1/4 month course as an Aviation Cadet from 6 February to 20 May 1943.

George attended and passed AAF Primary (Pilot) school at Thunderbird Field, Glendale/Phoenix, Arizona. He attended the 2 1/2 month course as an Aviation Cadet from 21 May to 26 July 1943.

George attended and passed AAF Basic (Pilot) school at Minter Field, California. He attended the 2 1/2 month course as an Aviation Cadet  from 28 July to 30 September 1943.

On 25 September 1943, George’s score for firing a 45 caliber pistol was 79.6% which categorized him as a “sharpshooter.”

George attended Adv. S.E. (Pilot) school at Luke Field, Arizona, which I also see noted as the 305th Seft. Gp. He attended the course as an Aviation Cadet from 1 October to 12 November 1943, but did not successfully complete it. George was eliminated from Pilot training and sent to a reclassification center.

George returned to SAAAB (Santa Ana Army Air Base), SAAAB Cadet Detachment Santa Ana, California for Reclassification on 12 November 1943. He remained there until 5 December 1943, was reclassified as a Navigator, and transferred to Navigator school.

George attended and passed AAF Advanced Navigation school in Hondo, Texas. He attended the 4 1/2 month course from 5 December 1943 until his graduation on 8 April 1944. He was honorably discharged as an enlisted man as of 7 April 1944 to accept commission in the Armed Forces as a 2nd Lieutenant upon his 8 April 1944 Navigation School graduation. His total time as an enlisted many was from 17 July 1941 to 7 April 1944, and thereafter starting 8 April 1944 until his discharge, was a commissioned officer.

From 13 April to 26 April 1944, George was assigned to AAF Lincoln, Nebraska, Processing and Assignment. On 20 April 1944, he was attached to ACCD 222d OCTS.

George was assigned to B-17 Combat Crew training, AAF Sta. 172, Ardmore, Oklahoma, for 10 days, which he completed on 23 June 1944. He was assigned to the James Joseph Brodie crew as Navigator and they went to England and were assigned to the 384th Bomb Group stationed in Grafton Underwood.

To be continued…