Hansell, Haywood S.

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Haywood Hansell joined the Army in 1928 to learn how to fly. He quickly became a stunt pilot and barnstormed with the Air Corps Aerobatic team called "The Men on the Flying Trapeze." After the United States entered World War II, he was sent to England and worked with the staff of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1942, was commander of bombardment wings of the Eighth Air Force, and flew on air raids in B-17's. He was later assigned to the Pacific and flew B-29's on the first raids over Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Hansell played a large role in the strategic planning of United States air operations during World War II and he made daylight precision strategic bombardment a lifelong crusade that eventually became the key tenet of American airpower employment. He was also instrumental in creating an effective air-sea rescue system that saved half of all B-29 crews downed at sea in 1945. Hansell retired from the military in 1955, worked for the General Electric Company for more than ten years, wrote two books on air strategy in World War II, and died in 1988 from heart failure.

From the description of Hansell collection, 1929-1988. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 247106576

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hansell, Haywood S., 1903-1988. Hansell collection, 1929-1988. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
creatorOf George, Harold Lee, 1893-. Reminiscences of Harold Lee George and Haywood Hansell : oral history, 1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. SAIPAN: BASE FOR THE B-29'S [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the "Combat Bulletin" Program Series. 1944 - 1951. ACTIVITIES IN EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS (AACHEN) [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. ARMY BEATS NAVY IN TRADITIONAL FOOTBALL CLASSIC [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Special Film Projects Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1970. TARGET TOKYO National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Cabell, Charles P. (Charles Pearre), 1903-1971. Reminiscences of Charles Pearre Cabell and Haywood Sheperd Hansell : oral history, 1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. B-29'S OVER TOKYO [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cabell, Charles P. (Charles Pearre), 1903-1971. person
associatedWith George, Harold Lee, 1893- person
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pacific Ocean
Germany
Japan
Subject
Bombing, Aerial
Air warfare
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1903-09-28

Death 1988-11-14

English

Information

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Ark ID: w67d4q61

SNAC ID: 16905683