Lt. Col. William N. Hensley died as the result of a Thunderbolt
jet crash near Cleveland, Texas, on May 10, 1951. Lieutenant
Colonel Hensley was a veteran of World War II. He led his B-29
Superfortress from the Marianas to northern Japan on the longest
bombing mission during World War II, 4,400 miles. During the Korean
War he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. On May 10,
1951 he was in a Thunderbolt jet aircraft on a practice mission,
when his engine flamed out and the aircraft crashed near Cleveland,
Texas.
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Biography - Lt. Col. William N. Hensley
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William N. Hensley was born on 14 August 1918 in Pasadena,
California, son of William Nicholas Hensley (1881-1929) and Matie
Maynard Hensley (1890-1971). He graduated as the valedictorian of
his law class at Cumberland University at age twenty. He taught at
Cumberland until he was old enough to take the Texas bar exams in
1939, which he passed with the highest grades ever achieved.
He enlisted in the Army's Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1937. He was
commissioned in 1941 and received his pilot rating. He was called to
active duty immediately after Pearl Harbor, and by 1944 was promoted
to Major. He was shipped to Guam where he commanded the 16th
Bombardment Squadron and led bombing missions against Japan, flying
105 combat hours and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air
Medal, numerous other awards and decorations and was credited with
participating in four major campaigns. He was released from active
duty in 1946.
On 1 January 1947 he became the District Attorney for Bexar County
and that same year he helped to organize the 182d Fighter Squadron
as its commander. His unit was called to active duty during the
Korean Conflict and he underwent F-84E training at Langley Air Force
Base, Virginia. While en-route back to Langley from San Antonio, his
plane crashed and burned just north of Houston, Texas on 10 May
1951. His dedication to duty and faith was symbolized by the small
Bible and Texas flag found in his pocket at the scene of the crash.
He was honored by having Hensley Field and the Hensley Hangar of the
149th Tactical Fighter Group dedicated to his memory.Lieutenant
Colonel Hensley married Patricia A. "Pat" Lundgren. Born 1927
and died 2017, Pat later married Robert A. Hollingsworth
(1925-2016). William and Pat are buried in Arlington National
Cemetery. |
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