[303rd-Talk] Cindy McCain's father - James H. Hensley, Jr.
Tooley, Dave
Dave.Tooley at allstate.com
Wed Sep 10 07:05:18 MDT 2008
All,
A search for Hensley on the 91st BG website returns many references to
him as the bombardier. It sounds like his combat service ended when he
was wounded in the knee when his plane was shot down over the Channel in
Jan of 1943. He stayed with the 91st for some time in the operations
section.
Dave
WWII Bombardier website
Bombardier Training Films
-----Original Message-----
From: 303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com
[mailto:303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com] On Behalf Of Gordy Alton
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:52 AM
To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum
Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] Cindy McCain's father - James H. Hensley, Jr.
Hi, Gary.
I think I can settle the argument. As you know, I am a friend of the
303rd, but my Dad, S/Sgt. Donald Merle Alton, 323rd of the 91st BG,
was of course the start of the interest in all such matters.
I am copying a recent email exchange from the 91st BG email Ring,
with most of the email addresses deleted so that some of the people
are going to remain incognito, for privacy concerns.
I think by reading the following, it will settle any concerns about
Cindy McCain's father. Some of these emails date back to 2002. I have
visited Bassingbourn a few time myself, and I am proud to say that we
all in the 91st were able to help make her trip a little easier when
she and some members of her family did the visit.
Hope this helps, my friend.
Gordy.
******************************************************
Hi Mel and 91sters,
Mel, Thanks for copying Thomas Hansbury's story of his 6th
mission completed Sunday, January 3, 1943 which was part of his
essay, "My first tour of duty." There is such a wealth of
information in our web page's "Stories from the 91st" that I'm going
to start reading them as I would read a novel.
Our coverage of Cindy McCain and her father James Hensley
started way back in January 2002 when Jim Shepherd sent me a message
from Cindy McCain asking the 91st to help her with arrangements for
her and her children to visit Bassingbourn. Most of those who joined
the Ring after these E-mails haven't heard the story so I've copied
it immediately below.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy McCain
To: <mailto:augusto at earthlink.net>augusto at earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 12:16 PM
Subject: Jim Hensley
Dear Sirs,
My name is Cindy McCain and I am the wife of US Senator John
McCain. My father was Jim Hensley from Phoenix, Arizona and a member
of the 91st Bomb Group from Bassingbourn and Royston. Although, I was
with him as a child during a return visit to the memorial and the old
air base, it is my plan to return with his grandchildren in the near
future. I am in need of some contact information in England so that I
might plan our trip more efficiently.
Like all men from the 91st, my father was indeed a special man. I
miss him everyday. Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Cindy McCain
Please reply:
Subj: Jim Hensley's daughter and grandchildren plan Bassingbourn visit.
Date: 1/26/2002 11:17:31 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: B17banta
To: Cindy McCain
T
Hi Cindy,
You have probably already heard from Steve and Paul and they
will make arrangements for your visit. Your father had been a member
of the 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association (322 Squadron Life
Member) and I was unaware that he had taken his long, last flight.
We are the participants in the 91st BG E-mail Ring (115 91st
Bomb Group veterans and 91BGMA Associate Members and 8th Air Force
historians) who answer questions for searches put in the guest book
of our web site. We represent all periods of time that the 91st was
active and so some of us can answer almost any question.
I'm passing your request placed in the guest book of our web
page to 91st Ring participants so that others may have an opportunity
to offer their services on your return to Bassingbourn. Some of our
Ring participants live in England and may help make your visit even
more meaningful. If you have not joined the 91st BGMA as an
Associate Member, please consider joining. An application is
available on our 91st Bomb Group web page.
Mike Banta, 91st Ring
Subj: More, Jim Hensley's daughter and grandchildren plan Bassingbourn
visit.
Date: 1/27/2002 9:45:21 PM Pacific Standard Time
To: Tower Museum
Hi Steve and Paul,
I know that it was a thrill for you, as it was for me, to find
out that Cindy McCain, the daughter of 91st veteran (deceased) Jim
Hensley, is the wife of US Senator John McCain. In her earlier
E-mail, she told of how her father had taken her to Bassingbourn and
the impression this made on her. In this E-mail, she states, "It was
my fathers last wish that I should take his grand children to the
place of his service and teach them as well as show them the price of
freedom."
Both of you are in the very best position to make her trip all
that she wants it to be. I know that all of us want this and we are
all ready to help in any way we can. Please keep us informed as to
your messages back and forth so that we can share in what should be a
wonderful day.
Should this be left to you, Steve, to coordinate since you are
right on the scene? Is this something for which you can spare the
time? Should this be coordinated by the 91st Bomb Group Memorial
Association? Please, let us hear your thoughts.
Mike Banta, 91st Ring
In a message dated 1/27/2002 5:23:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, Cindy
McCain writes:
<< Subj: Re: Jim Hensley's daughter and grandchildren plan Bassingbourn
visit.
Date: 1/27/2002 5:23:58 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: (Cindy McCain)
Mr. Banta,
Thank you for your help. It was my fathers last wish that I should
take his
grand children to the place of his service and teach them as well as
show
them the price of freedom. I intend to fulfill his wish this summer.
Please
tell me how our family can become associate members. It would be our
honor
to do so.
Sincerely,
Cindy McCain
Please reply:
Jim Hensley's daughter and grandchildren plan Bassingbourn visit.
Date: 1/28/2002 8:47:30 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: B17banta
Hi 91sters,
To keep you up-to date on the visit to Bassingbourn Cindy
McCain plans for this summer along with her children, here is a
further E-mail I received from her and a letter that Paul Chryst sent to
her.
This is an important moment for the 91st. Cindy's husband, US
Senator John McCain, was America's hero for standing up to the Viet
Cong as a POW in the Vietnamese war. Her father is also her hero for
flying in the early stages of strategic daylight bombing of Hitler's
occupied Europe.
We all want this to be as memorable a trip as we can possibly
make it for her and her children. I haven't heard from Steve yet but
know that he knows the importance we veterans place on this
visit. While we know that the base is an active army facility, we
hope that in addition to the Tower Museum, areas such as the old
briefing room which I visited in 1992, if it is still there, can be
opened to our very important guests.
I know that Paul will also arrange a trip to the Madingly
Cemetery at Cambridge. I don't believe I have ever been more moved
than when viewing the row upon row of crosses interspersed with Stars
of David across the beautifully kept grounds and overlooking the
green English countryside. The chapel, reflection pools and Wall of
Honor to the missing in action completes this shrine to our Nations
best.
Paul will undoubtedly also arrange a trip to Duxford Air Museum
where Cindy and her children can walk through a the restored B-17, Mary
Ruth.
Mike Banta, 91st Ring
In a message dated 1/28/2002 6:15:07 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Paulnnance writes:
<< Subj: Re: McCain visit to Base.
Date: 1/28/2002 6:15:07 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Paulnnance
To: B17banta
Mike, below is a transcript of what I wrote to Cindy McCain:
I am happy to write to you as the wife of my most admired veteran
of the Vietnam War, Lt. John McCain. I salute him for his courage,
fortitude and inner strength having resisted the pain and physical
torture from his savage captors for all those awful years - and
survived.
I also appreciate the opportunity to help you with your future
plans to revisit the memorable area of Bassingbourn; former "home" of
the 91st BG where you Dad and I served our air combat duty so many years
ago.
As a former Travel Consultant, I have led the veterans of the
91stBG, back to England on 13 different occasions over the past 30
plus years. Our most recent adventure was last October when 36
persons formed our travel group.
Along with this offer to help you with this venture, I have
alerted our two most capable English friends in the Cambridge area of
your future intentions. You will note that a copy of this
introductory letter is being emailed to both Peter Roberts and Steve
Pena to solicit their assistance; also.
Personally; I have completed 27 years of Active and Reserve duty
with the USAF, maintain a current Passport, worked with Protocol,
Secret clearances and an aide to a Major General, one of our original
Commanding officers of the old Base.
I await your next message with the hopes that you will feel free
to allow me, with Mr. Roberts in Cambridge (UK) to help you
further. Signed P.C. with Home Tele., email address and
SSN. (That's it, Mike) >>"
Unfortunately, we never did receive an E-mail message from our
English friends as to how this visit turned out. They didn't seem to
want to keep the 91st E-mail Ring in the information circuit in what
we considered to be a most important visit by a very important
person. Just as we aren't up on English politics, perhaps hey didn't
realize the stature of John McCain. As a matter fact, as I recall,
news of this incredible event wasn't even sent to the 91st BGMA. I
say this because I don't recall anything about the visit in our R/I
for the summer or Fall of 1992. Paul, were you kept in the
information circuit? Can you tell us as to how the visit by Cindy
and her children to visit her father's home base turned out?
Mike Banta, 91st Ring
In a message dated 9/4/2008 9:24:13 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
Melvin Dart writes:
Mike,
I knew from previous Ring messages that Cindy McCain's father (Lt
James Hensley) had been assigned to the 91st, and maybe I missed more
details of his service, so I looked it up on the 91st website. I
find that he was on the Heavyweight Annihilators when it was shot up.
The following is from Thomas Hansbury's story "My 1st Tour Of Duty":
Mel Dart
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1943
Jack's birthday and almost my finish, death was really knocking on my
door.
ST NAZAIRE-6HRS 15MIN- I don't think I could stand another raid like
this one. Flack, flack, and more flack (it was also very accurate).
Fifteen minutes over the target, our #4 engine got a direct hit on it
and caught fire. Also #3 got hit and we started loosing altitude
fast. When the Jerries saw this they came straight for us. For one
hour we were by ourselves, no one to help us. Twelve of them diving
at us from all sides at once. First Lt. Bader was hit and cut, #4
engine was still burning and #3 engine was not running at all. Then
Lt. Hensley, our bombardier was hit in the knee and Lt. Ackins, our
navigator was hit in the head but not bad. Lt. Hensley, T/Sgt. Hall,
S/Sgt. Budgisz and S/Sgt. Hansbury all shot down a FW 109 each. We
all thought the gas tank would catch fire and explode or the wing
would melt and fall off. Still the Jerries would come and come; our
plane was surely shot up. After an hour of damn hard and very good
work, we pulled away from the Jerries. If it was not for Lt. Bader
flying the way he did, even after he was hit, we would have never of
made it. The boys in our outfit and I said they have never seen such
good flying. We all think Lt. Bader should get the DFC. My thanks to
God and Lt. Bader, for if it were not for these two I would not be
alive today. Our ship 4482 never flew again. I did not fly anymore
this month. Lt. Bader and Lt. Hensley were in the hospital and did
not have a plane even if they were ok. After two months of rest, Lt.
Bader started flying a new plane. Lt. Hensley would never fly in
combat again; he could no longer bend his knee. Also our Co-pilot,
Lt. Bert Humphries was assigned to operations officer of our squad
and was relieved from combat flying
In a message dated 9/4/2008 6:40:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, jimbard
writes:
I just learned that Cindy McCain's dad was in the 91st BG. Jim
Hensley served three years as an officer in the United States Army
Air Forces during World War
II.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_note-phx-nt-6#cite_not
e-phx-nt-6>[7]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_note-ar1024
06-7#cite_note-ar102406-7>[8]
He was a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_(air_force)>bombardier on
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Flying_Fortress>B-17 Flying
Fortresses.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_note-Frantz-8#
cite_note-Frantz-8>[9]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_not
e-ct041508-9#cite_note-ct041508-9>[10]
On his thirteenth
mission,<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_note-phx-nt-6#cit
e_note-phx-nt-6>[7]
his plane was shot down over the English Channel; in February 1943.
In all his planes were shot down two or three times. He was awarded
the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)
>Distinguished
Flying
Cross.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley#cite_note-ar062300b-2#ci
te_note-ar062300b-2>[3]
Jim Bard
----------
At 08:14 PM 9/9/2008, you wrote:
>WOW, that is confusing!
>I wonder who knows what the REAL truth is.
>Sounds like a bit of a mess.
>Is there an actual way to get the correct information?
>I've been trying to find out if anyone knew my brother, but haven't
been able
>to get an answer from anyone re: that.
>How do you find out these things?
>
>Dr. Gina Bub
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary Moncur<mailto:glm at 303rdbg.com>
> To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum<mailto:303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 5:02 PM
> Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Cindy McCain's father - James H. Hensley,
Jr.
>
>
>
> According to this page:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J
im_Hensley>
> James Willis Hensley was a bombardier shot down in Feb 1943.
> There is no James W. Hensley listed in the Mighthy Eighth Roll of
> Honor. The 303rd had two James Hensley's both shot down and both
> evadee/escapees and both enlisted men and both shot down in 1944.
>
> I am confused.
>
> Gary
>
>
> >
> > A j,H Hensley was a Sgt, shot down on22 February 1944 (Big Week)
> > mission aschersleben. He evaded captured and worked with the
Dutch
> > Underground and was finally captured.by Germans looking for downed
> > u.s. flyers. He is named a hero by the Dutch underground. Hal
Susskind
> > ---------------------------------------- > Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008
> > 13:33:55 -0700 > From:
> bvp6565 at yahoo.com<mailto:bvp6565 at yahoo.com> > Subject: RE:
[303rd-Talk]
> > Cindy McCain's father - James H. Hensley, Jr. > To:
> > 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com<mailto:303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com> > > I
> have been trying to find information on
> > Cindy McCain's father, James H. Hensley, Jr., who was a, I think,
> > Bombardier. I have run across conflicting sources of information.
> > Some say he was with the 322nd BS of the 91st BG and I have found
some
> > information in the 322nd Dailies on the 91st website. Some
sources
> > say he was with the 303rd, 360 BS and shot down on 2/22/44. > > I
know
> > he was shot down as it was mentioned in Cindy's speech last week.
> >
> > Can anyone shed any more light on this? Any help appreciated! >
Bob
> > Van Pelt > > > >
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> 303rd Bomb Group (H)
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