Arthur P. Hafner

Hello:
 
I'm looking for information on S/Sgt Arthur P. Hafner.  He was a Left waist gunner for Lt. Robert Roush's B-17 crew.  He is my wife's grandfather, though he passed away before she was born.  He met a great nurse, who he later married,  during his recovery from a leg injury suffered during a mission.  That mission target was an airfield in Cologne, Germany on Jan 10, 1945 in a GH navigation equipped bomber from the 303rd BG (http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-44-8495.html).  His crew's picture is in the "Personnel" section of this website and 1st Lt. Earl Malerich's story about the crash is here as well.  We were thrilled to find them!!  We'd love to know more about him before his injury and get any pictures we can, if possible. 
 
Whatever help your great community can provide would be greatly appreciated. 
 
Regards,
 
Eliud
Houston TX

Not everthing is transferred over, but this story is also on the 381st site:
 
http://www.armyairforces.com/old381st/stories_malerich.html
 
Perhaps with some more detail and certainly with somebody you'll want to contact - Mike Malerich.

Thank you.  I will contact Mr. Malerich with the email provided on the link. 
 
Would you happen to know how I could get a higher resolution copy of the crew picture found in the 381st.org content http://www.armyairforces.com/old381st/crews-r.html ?  It would be great to frame it.
 
Eliud

Eliud,
Here are the missions that I have in the database for Arthur P. Hafner.
 
date         aircraft                    pilot                   position
8/25/44   42-39997 (VP-T)   Morton Tolchinsky      gunner(tail)
9/1/44     42-97059 (VP-S)   David Gardner           gunner(W)
9/8/44     42-97059 (VP-S)   David Gardner           gunner(W)
9/9/44     42-97059 (VP-S)   David Gardner           gunner(tail)
9/17/44   42-39997 (VP-T)   Nelson Schein            gunner(tail)
9/21/44   42-97882 (VP-K)   David Gardner            gunner(W)
9/22/44   42-97882 (VP-K)   David Gardner            gunner(W)
9/25/44   42-97357 (VP-Z)   David Gardner            gunner(W)
9/27/44   43-37560 (VP-R)   David Gardner            gunner(W)
10/7/44   42-31614 (VP-L)   Robert Roush             gunner(W)
10/15/44  42-39997 (VP-T)  Robert Roush             gunner(W)
10/19/44  43-37561 (VP-J)   Robert Roush             gunner(W)
10/25/44  42-31761 (VP-O)  Robert Roush             gunner(W)
10/28/44  42-31761 (VP-O)  Robert Roush             gunner(W)
10/30/44  42-97589 (VP-Y)  Robert Roush             gunner(W)
11/5/44    42-31761 (VP-O)  Robert Roush            gunner(W)
11/6/44    42-40017 (MS-W) Robert Roush            gunner(W)
11/9/44    43-37791 (VP-V)  Robert Roush            gunner(W)
11/21/44   42-31761 (VP-O)  Robert Roush           gunner(W)
11/25/44   43-37561 (VP-J)   Robert Roush           gunner(W)
12/4/44     43-37777            Robert Roush           gunner(W)
12/9/44     44-6478  (VP-W)  Robert Roush           gunner(W)
1/1/45      43-38983 (VP-S)   Robert Roush           gunner(W)
1/3/45      43-38983 (VP-S)   Robert Roush           gunner(W)
1/8/45      43-38983 (VP-S)   Robert Roush           gunner(W)
1/10/45     xxxx495               Robert Roush           gunner(W)
 
I can not guarantee that I have all of his missions.  It is at least a start.
 
 
 

Thank you very much! It's more than I could have hoped for.
 
Regards,
 
Eliud

Eliud:
 
I met two crewmates of your wife's grandfather, SSgt Hafner, at the 381st reunions and obtained the crew photo you saw on the website. There is also a photo of the Jan 10 th mission in Ron MacKay's 381st book. Send me an email off forum and I will send more information. 
wilsonkvn@aol.com
 
Kevin Wilson, PhD
President, 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Will do.
 
Thank you.