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| Paul Hunter 1942 |
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| Recent Address: |
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1684 19000 Road, Parsons, KS 67357 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: William and Hope; Wife: Helen; Children: Kay Carol, William, Robert, Barry |
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| Hometown: |
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Labette City, KS |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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August 19 1942 |
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| Service Number: |
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37215624 and O-862829 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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40th |
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| Squadron: |
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45th |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Pratt AFB - 12/21/43 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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35 |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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19 |
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| Targets: |
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Anshan, Omura, Mukden, Singapore, Bangkok, Rangoon, Kure, Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kasumi, Himeji, Okayama, Chiba, Sendai, Utsonomiya, Namazu |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation, Chinese Air Force Flight Engineer's Wings
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Aircraft Engineering-Yale Univ, New Haven, CT Apr-Jun 1943; Boeing B-29-Seattle, WA Jun-Aug 1943; Flight Engineers School-Salina, KS / Denver, CO Sep-Dec 1943 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 1028-Aircraft Observer, Flight Engineer (VHB) |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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Captain |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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42-6326 (unnamed), 42-65274 Bad Penny, 42-24740 Harry Miller, 44-69668 The Outlaw, 42-24738 Honeywell Honey,
42-24718 Black Magic II, 44-61554 (unnamed), 42-24915 Miss Donna Lee, 42-24795 (unnamed), 42-24739 (unnamed).
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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July 27 1945 |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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January 4 1946 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
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Farmer. Mr. Hunter bred registered Jersey cattle until 1972. Mr. Hunter was active in farm organizations and had served on the Labette County Extension Council, the Labette County Farm Bureau Board and the Federal Land Bank Board and served 45 years on the Labette County Soil Conservation District Board. He served many years as a community leader and project leader of the Thrifty Rivers 4-H Club. .
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| I am proud to have served in the 58th Bomb Wing, 40th Bomb Group, 45th Bomb Squadron and of our combat record. We destroyed most of Japan's capability to produce war material. Men of the 58th were truly "The Greatest Generation." |
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| Comments: |
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The 92-page book "The War Years: Experiences of a B-29 Flight Engineer in World War II" by Paul W. Hunter is available in the 58th Bomb Wing Memorial Office. Mr. Hunter served as the President of the 40th Bomb Group Association from 2004 until 2008.
Mr. Hunter passed away June 5, 2010 at Parsons, KS. He is buried at Springhill Cemetery in Parsons, KS.
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| Paul Hunter - 1999 |
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