Harry Hull
Left Formation February 4, 2020
From Bob Bertram:
My dad, Jack Bertram, got some bad news recently that his crew member and great friend Harry Hull, passed away in California on Feb. 4. Harry was 97 years old. Dad received a call from Harry's son BJ on Wednesday. He is pretty broken up about it. He and Harry have been close since 1943. Dad is now the final member of his crew. He wrote a short tribute to his friend and asked me to post it here.
1st Lt. Harry Hull, Bombardier
8th AF 95th BG 412th Sq.
36 combat missions
Apr. - Aug. 1944
I was privileged to have met Harry in early Dec. 1943 at the US Army A.F. base in Avon Park, FL. Harry and I, living apart on the East and West coasts, have enjoyed 77 years of endearing friendship, sharing life and families. Harry, always a special man, small in stature, very large in all aspects of life.
A more positive and pleasant man you would never meet. Harry flew 36 frightful missions, day and night, in the plexiglass nose of a Flying Fortress, in full view and close proximity to all the action.
Harry never wavered.
He served as communication officer on all our missions, keeping the rear gunners abreast on the intercom of each mission, earning their devotion.
A friend to everyone Harry met.
HARRY, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
1st Lt. John (Jack) Bertram,pilot
8th AF 95th BG 412th Sq.
From Dick Westerburg:
I join Jack and Bob in the heartfelt sadness of losing Harry. I also agree that Harry’s life – even for the relatively short time I knew him – calls out for a genuine “Thanks for the memories!” I grew up hearing the names of the heroes who flew with my Dad, Louis Westerburg, Ball Turret Gunner on Jack Bertram’s crew, from April to August 1944. Dad introduced me to Harry, along with Jack and John Koslowski, at my first reunion in Orlando, in 2001. Sadly, I did not see John Kozlowski again after that, but I have been privileged to connect with Harry and Jack and their families at subsequent reunions up to and after Dad passed away in 2007. On occasion – the Reno reunion in 2004 comes to mind – Harry attended by himself and teamed up with Dad and me throughout reunion events. In past years, my sister, Dottie, and I would speak to Harry by phone between reunions, at times initiated by Harry’s call to us.
One of the last vivid memories I have of Harry comes from the last San Diego reunion. My family attended with me. My son, Trey, was working for a Houston radio station at the time and was asked to take the opportunity of the reunion to record veterans’ memories of the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion, with a mind toward broadcasting those memories on the then-upcoming 2014 D-Day anniversary. Trey was honored to speak w Harry Hull and Ben Roujanky.
Harry – Thanks so much for the memories!