Carl O. Hammarlund was born in Wisconsin in 1924 to native Iowan parents. By all accounts, Carl had a normal upbringing and graduated from Janesville High School in 1942. He is remembered as a popular student. He was on the football, track and basketball teams.
At the age of 18, Carl enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Army Corps. While in the Army, Carl trained to become an armorer, a gunner as well as a toggleer. This training is what led him to be aboard the Henn’s Revenge on April 10, 1945.
The Henn’s Revenge was a part of the Hell’s Angel’s 303rd Bomb Group. Under the piloting abilities of 2nd Lt. Robert I. Murray, the Revenge flew twenty-two combat missions without failing. All of that would change over Germany in 1945.
The Henn’s Revenge was attacked by six to eight enemy planes over Oranienburg, Germany. The plane burst into flames between the third and fourth engines. The Henn’s Revenge exploded at 2,000 feet and broke into two parts over Gross Glasaow Lake 20km northeast of the intended target.
Carl O. Hammerlund was the toggleer on this ill-fated mission. Carl was able to parachute out of the plane and land near a farm area northeast of the target. After landing, Carl discovered a German paratrooper using the latrine, and while holding him at gunpoint, demanded the soldier’s uniform so he could escape unnoticed. While Carl was changing his clothes, the paratrooper managed to get away. Carl tried to run away but was eventually captured. A German sergeant and staff sergeant were ordered to take Carl to headquarters. Once night fell, Carl was shot and killed while trying to “escape.” His body was buried right where he was killed.
While his parents were made aware that he had been killed in action, they were not told the exact details until 1950 when their son’s remains were returned to them. Thanks to the International Red Cross and a farmer in Germany, Carl’s grave was located and his family was able to give him a proper burial. There were seven crew members on this mission, six of whom died that day in April 1945.
1st Lt. Robert I. Murray – he was the pilot of Henn’s Revenge and his body was believed to be in the wreckage of Henn’s Revenge in Gross Glasaow Lake. Thanks to the efforts of the Missing Personnel Office in Washington, D.C., his body was recovered and officially accounted for in 2014. He was given a funeral with full military honors in August 2014.
2nd Lt. Lawrence L. Fries – His remains were found by a civilian on the northeast side of Glasaow Lake in a shallow grave. His dog tags were turned over to American authorities and he was given a full military funeral. Lt. Fries was a substitute crew member and had flown no missions aboard the Revenge before this one.
T/Sgt Theodore A. Bates – his body was recovered from the tail section of the plane by German forces. Sgt. Bates was buried in a cemetery at Grosse Schonebeck but later re-interred in Wisconsin.
Sgt. Nicholas Rodack – his body was recovered from the tail section of the plane by German forces. Sgt. Rodak was originally buried at Grosse Schonebeck and later re-interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery.
Sgt. Robert P. Rennie – his body was recovered when it washed ashore. Sgt. Rennie was buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
S/Sgt Vito J. Brunale – S/Sgt Brunale was the only survivor of the mission. He was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. S/Sgt Brunale passed away in September 2006.
Left to Right (top row) - T/Sgt Carl O. Hammarlund; 1st Lt. Robert I. Murray; S/Sgt Vito J. Brunale
Left to Right (botton row) - S/Sgt Theodore A. Bates; Sgt. Nicholas Rodock; Sgt. Robert P. Rennie
2nd Lt. Lawrence L. Fries
(Information and photos thanks to the 303rd Bomb Group and Fold3.com)