HANSON, GREGG OMAR
Name: Greg Omar Hanson Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O2 Unit: Date of Birth: 30 July 1947 Chicago IL Home City of Record: Thousand Oaks CA Date of Loss: 13 June 1972 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 215600 North 1051600 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E #0365 Missions: Other Personnel in Incident: Rich Fulton, Returnee Refno: 1876
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated 2010.
REMARKS: 730328 RELEASED BY DRV
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors).
GREGG OMAR HANSON Captain - United States Air Force Shot Down: June 13, 1972 Released: March 28, 1973
Gregg was the Aircraft Commander of a Phantom Jet (F4). The Phantom carries two crew members. He left his base in Thailand early on the morning of June 13, 1972. Shortly after 9:00 AM he was hit by an air-to-air missile (fired from a MIG). He was not injured on ejection, touched down near a small town and was captured immediately. He and his GIB (Guy in Back) were officially "Missing in Action" until August 24. At that time Hanoi released the names of 10 pilots - Gregg and his GIB were both listed. His status then changed to "Prisoner of War." He was a POW for 9 1/2 months.
Gregg was born July 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He lived in Roselle, Illinois through grade school and his first year of high school. He graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in California in 1965. In sports he excelled at wrestling and enjoyed golfing. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1969 receiving a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering. He is a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
He started flying when he was 15 and soloed soon after his 16th birthday. Next came his private, commercial and instructor ratings. Most of the money he earned during high school and college bought more flying time. While attending A.S.U. he ferried planes cross-country and instructed flying - including aerobatics at a field near Tempe. Upon graduation from A.S.U. he had logged close to 1000 hours of flying time.
In October, 1969, Gregg enlisted in the Air Force and attended Officers Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January, 1970. His assignment took him to Williams AFB, Arizona for flight training. Upon completion of T-37 and T-38 training at Williams, his next assignment took him to MacDill AFB, Florida for F4 Phantom training. While at MacDiil he became a 1st Lieutenant F4 Phantom training was completed in September, 1971, his possessions were stored at his home in Thousand Oaks, and he departed for Southeast Asia in October, 1971.
Gregg was seen on the Christmas broadcasts from Hanoi. At this time the POW's were televised to play on the emotions of the men and their families. When Gregg was viewed by his parents, it was noted that he was wearing a T-shirt which had been sent by his family. Thereby, they knew that he had received a package from home. In this way, his family could also observe that he was not ill or injured. Gregg's homecoming was overwhelming and joyous. Constantly on his mind, however, was and is his concern for our MlA's. Let them not be forgotten!
Gregg Hanson and his wife Jamie reside in Florida.