H. S. Hansell Jr.; Command Pilot in B-29 Raids

Haywood S. Hansell Jr., who was a stunt pilot as a young Army Air Corps flier and led B-17 raids on Germany and B-29 strikes on Japan as a general, died Monday in Hilton Head, S.C., at age 85.

The son of an Army doctor, Hansell joined the Army in 1928 to learn to fly, and for reasons since lost to time was nicknamed “Possum.” He flew with the three-member acrobatic team called “The Men on the Flying Trapeze.” Their leader was Claire L. Chennault, who would later head U.S. flying forces in China before and during World War II.

Hansell, who retired as a major general in 1955 to work for General Electric Co., was on the staff of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1942. He was made director of bombardment wings of the 8th Air Force and went on bombing raids over Europe in the B-17 Flying Fortress.

In 1944, he moved to the Pacific as chief of staff to Gen. Henry H. (Hap) Arnold and commanded the 21st Bomber Group of B-29s, which made the first strikes on the home islands of Japan from Saipan and Guam.