HANMER, CHARLES E. Apr 11, 1946 age 24 MIA China Sea

CHARLES EDWARD HANMER  b. Feb 2, 1922 Lennon, MI Missing in Action Apr 1945

China Sea d. April 11, 1946 Declaration of Death

2^nd Lt 033780 Marines Observation Squadron 6 VMO-6

Buried Honolulu Tablets of the Missing, Hawaii

 

Parents: Harry Howard & Hazel Fern (Phillips)

Siblings: William, Phillip

The family’s origins start in Genesee Co., Michigan. All 3 sons were born in Lennon, near Flint. Harry and Hazel married 1916 in Ohio then lived in Venice, Michigan. Harry worked as an auto salesman and Hazel was a saleslady in a department store. They rented their various homes and in 1930 lived 15420 Westbrook, Detroit. Their 3 sons were also employed: an accountant, shipper and car driver. During the 1930’s there was some disruption in the family as in 1940 Harry lived with his older sister in Detroit and Hazel with her sons lived in a different house on Westbrook. Harry was unemployed and continued as such on his 1942 draft registration. Harry died 1947 and is buried in a Hanmer family plot in Mt. Morris. Hazel died 1954 but is buried in Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit.

Charles registered June 30, 1942 in Detroit. He was 6’1” 170 lbs with gray eyes and brown hair. He shows up Oct 1944 on Marine muster rolls as part of the Fleet Marine Force, Auxiliary Air Facility, Bogue Field, North Carolina.

He joined the Marine Observation Squadron VMO-6. It flew artillery spotting, reconnaissance, message delivery, wrie laying and medical evacuation. They flew OY-1 Sentinel aircraft, referred to as ‘Grasshoppers’.

Planes at Youtan Airfield, Okinawa

A History of Marine Observation Squadron Six, History and Museums Div. Hdqrs, U.S. Marine Corp., by Lt Col Gary W. Parker USMC and Maj Frank M. Batha, Jr. USMC describes his last flight:

“During the Month of April 1945 the squadron lost three Marines.  Second Lieutenant Charles Hanmer was forced down while on an artillery mission over Motobu Peninsula (Okinawa) when a sudden rainstorm moved in from the China Sea restricting visibility.  During his last radio communication, Hanmer reported he was lost, running out of fuel, and going down at sea.  A radio bearing of Hanmer’s position was taken by the ground station at Kadena and Air-Sea Rescue started a search at once.  No trace of Hanmer or his aircraft was found.”

Charles was declared dead on April 11, 1946. His brother William was wounded in the war.

Grasshopper over Nara, Okinawa