BIOGRAPHY for WINFRED H. HART JR., WWII VETERAN
Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving Our Community
Winfred H. Hart Jr. was born in Nace, Virginia (near Troutville) on May 1st, 1921.
He enlisted in January of 1942 at the age of 21 and attended basic training in Texas.
Mr. Hart trained to be a pilot but later became a radio operator for the bomber crew of a B-24 Liberator which was part of the 8th Air Force, 466th Bomb Group, 785th Squadron, Crew number 545. During most of World War II, the 466th was stationed in Attlebridge, England; a point from where it could conduct bombing missions over most of Nazi occupied Europe.
Hart’s first mission was oil refinery targets in one of Germany’s largest port cities of Hamburg. Other missions included an airfield in Marne, France; a Junkers aircraft engine factory in Magdeburg, Germany; and railroad targets throughout Germany which were supplying the German Army. Mr. Hart’s last mission on January 21st, 1945 was a railroad marshalling yard (freight staging yard) in Helbronn, Germany.
Hart says they were very fortunate none of the crew was ever hurt. He remembers two close calls. While on his first mission over Hamburg, Germany, they lost the #3 engine from flak fire damage. Two P-51 Mustang fighters escorted them back to England, protecting them from enemy fighter aircraft. The other was a near midair collision with an allied aircraft over London while doing training exercises. He credits their pilot, John Gerrity, who was a tough, tall Irishman from Texas who knew how to handle the hard to fly B-24 aircraft.
After completing 27 missions, Mr. Hart was discharged in the spring of 1945. He was welcomed home by his family, which included his grandfather who rented a farm from Magnus Brugh, near the original Brugh’s Mill in Troutville. His Father was a machinist for Norfolk & Western Railroad and his mother was a Crawford from Craig County. Hart family descendants settled in Cambridge, MA. Family records show that the gymnasium of Harvard University is located on the old Hart family barnyard.
After returning home from the war, Mr. Hart worked to complete the high school credits required to attend VPI (VA Tech) where he would study Electrical Engineering. While attending school, he worked a short time for Eagle Rock Lime Company. Mr. Hart and his wife, Lois, both worked for Appalachian Power until retiring in 1982. Following retirement, they both enjoyed traveling which included visits to New Zealand, the Caribbean, Russia, and many parts of Europe. He is an avid fan of classical music and played violin for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Hart resides in Roanoke where he continues to enjoy music and is a member of the 8th Air Force fellowship group.
Created DHS 12-2-17