Warbird Information Exchange

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me with a bit of research. I recently learned that my Great Uncle served with the 8th Air Force as a gunner during the war. Apparently he was wounded on a mission, made it home but died shortly after from his injuries. I have nothing to go on other than his name, Art Happ. Art I assume is short for Arthur. Other than that I don't have much more information other than that he was from Illinois. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Both of my Grandfathers served in the war. My Grandfather on my Mothers side served in Europe and was involved in The Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of two concentration camps. He never spoke much about the war, but when he did he told me about bodies stacked up like cord wood and people walking around so skinny you could almost see through them. And the awful smell from the burning bodies in the camps.

My other Grandfather served in the Pacific. He was in from just before Pearl Harbor to a couple of months after VJ Day. He saw action from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. He passed when I was just a few months old so I never got to speak to him of his time in the war.

My Great Uncle Art was one of seven brothers, five of which went to war. He's the only one who didn't return home alive. I'd really like to learn more, so like I said, any assistance is very much appreciated.
Thank You,
-Andrew

Below information is probably him, but check to be sure. As a direct relative, you can get his service record. Go to www.nara.gov. Here is his enlistment record from that site. You will need his Army Serial Number to get his records. Don't expect much- most of the records were destroyed in a fire in 1973. But sometimes, you get lucky. Good luck!

Field Title Value Meaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 16126049 16126049
NAME HAPP#ARTHUR#E########### HAPP#ARTHUR#E###########
RESIDENCE: STATE 61 ILLINOIS
RESIDENCE: COUNTY 031 COOK
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 6120 CHICAGO ILLINOIS
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 17 17
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 09 09
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 42 42
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private
GRADE: CODE 8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION AC# Air Corps
BRANCH: CODE 20 Air Corps
FIELD USE AS DESIRED # #
TERM OF ENLISTMENT 5 Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
LONGEVITY ### ###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0 Civil Life
NATIVITY 61 ILLINOIS
YEAR OF BIRTH 22 22
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 1 White, citizen
EDUCATION 1 1 year of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 999 Undefined Code
MARITAL STATUS 6 Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 6 Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10
CARD NUMBER # #
BOX NUMBER 0223 0223
FILM REEL NUMBER 2.80# 2.80#

_________________
REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

_________________
45-47=-2

Thank you very much you guys.

I really appreciate your help and I'll continue on with my search.

Thanks again!

-Andrew

Only married 4 months...

And only 23 years old... Just a kid.