George Hakomaki
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
photo 1: "Tuesday March 7, 1944. Vatican in center. This photo was taken as we were on our way to bomb Rome's Railroad yards. I was pilot of the plane in the photo. Each member of my crew got a copy."
photo 2: (left to right) George Hakomaki, Hendrex.
photo 3: "Our formations on the way to a target, date not known."
photo 4: "You can see our bombs were well on target."
photo 5: "2nd from left is Joe Menaugh my navigator, 2nd from right is myself (George Hakomaki), 1st on right is Mel Hendrex, my bombardier."
photo 6: Letter from George Hakomaki, May 1944
photo 7: "Via Reggio R.R. Br., June 16, 1944."
photo 8: "July 30, 1944. Returning from my last mission flying lead ship. Col. Fletcher's head in Astro Dome. Target: Southern France fuel storage tanks. Forgot name of town. -Geo. Hakomaki"
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Mr. Hakomaki served in World War II in the European Theater. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in September 1943. He was accepted into U.S. Army Air Corps cadet training in September 1941. He was a B-26 pilot and a member of the 442nd Bomb Squadron of the 320th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. He flew 51 combat missions over Italy, attacking mostly transportation targets such as railroad bridges and train marshaling yards. He was assigned to three different units in Italy. He was involved in bombing missions as a Pilot and Squadron Leader.
He was decorated with air service medals and unit citations.
He was born in Gilbert, Minnesota, in 1919, the son of Isaac and Lempi Hakomaki. He graduated from high school in 1939.
After World War II service, Hakomaki remained in the Air Force reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1978.
George Hakomaki was born in Gilbert in 1919. He graduated from Gilbert High School and attended Eveleth Junior College for two years, then entered the service.
In his civilian life, Mr. Hakomaki was a quality control supervisor for 34 years at the USX Minntac plant.
“I was the squadron leader of three planes among a total group of twenty planes. The mission was to bomb a bridge in Orveto, which is in northern Italy. On the way, I spotted a flatbed train carrying materials needed to build another bridge. I and my squadron veered off the original target and we bombed the train. So in our mission, we were successful in two different areas.”
Source: information provided by veteran
