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'''Robert M. Hanson''' (1920 - 1944) was a fighter pilot and [[Flying ace|ace]] with the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] in [[World War II]].  He was the top-scoring [[F4U Corsair|Corsair]] pilot of the war (25 aerial victories, all in the F4U), and was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for heroism.

'''Robert M. Hanson''' (1920 - 1944) was a fighter pilot and [[Flying ace|ace]] with the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] in [[World War II]].  He was the top-scoring [[F4U Corsair|Corsair]] pilot of the war (25 aerial victories, all in the F4U), and was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for heroism.

Bob Hanson lead an interesting life even before the war began.  He was born in [[India]] on February 4, 1920, to missionary parents, and became the heavyweight [[wrestling]] champion of India’s United Provinces in the mid 1930’s. He later toured Europe by bicycle, and was passing through [[Austria]] when that country was annexed by [[Germany]]. After America entered the war, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and earned his wings.

Bob Hanson lead an interesting life even before the war began.  He was born in [[India]] on February 4, 1920, to missionary parents, and became the heavyweight [[wrestling]] champion of India’s United Provinces in the mid 1930s. He later toured Europe by bicycle, and was passing through [[Austria]] when that country was annexed by [[Germany]]. After America entered the war, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and earned his wings.

In 1943, Hanson was assigned to VMF-214, then active in the [[Solomon Islands]] campaign, and he flew his first combat mission on August 4.  His weeks with the 214 were productive ones, and he shot down two [[Japanese]] fighters during his time with that unit.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_aces2.html USMC Corsair Aces of WWII]</ref>  Hanson was transferred to VMF 215 just in time to support the Allied landings on the island of [[Bouginville]].  On the day the Marines landed, November 1, he became an ace by downing two [[Mitsubishi Zero|Zeros]] and single-handedly attacking a flight of six [[Nakajima B5N|“Kate” torpedo bombers]], destroying one of them and forcing the others to jettison their bombs.  He was shot down himself in that action, but was rescued by a destroyer and returned to duty.  In the month of January 1943, Hanson had an amazing run, shooting down 20 enemy aircraft in 17 days.  On January 24, Lt. Hanson was cut off from his division while on a high cover flight when he saw Japanese Zeros massing to attack a flight of American bombers.  He attacked, shooting down four of them, and disrupted the enemy formation.

In 1943, Hanson was assigned to VMF-214, then active in the [[Solomon Islands]] campaign, and he flew his first combat mission on August 4.  His weeks with the 214 were productive ones, and he shot down two [[Japanese]] fighters during his time with that unit.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_aces2.html USMC Corsair Aces of WWII]</ref>  Hanson was transferred to VMF 215 just in time to support the Allied landings on the island of [[Bouginville]].  On the day the Marines landed, November 1, he became an ace by downing two [[Mitsubishi Zero|Zeros]] and single-handedly attacking a flight of six [[Nakajima B5N|“Kate” torpedo bombers]], destroying one of them and forcing the others to jettison their bombs.  He was shot down himself in that action, but was rescued by a destroyer and returned to duty.  In the month of January 1943, Hanson had an amazing run, shooting down 20 enemy aircraft in 17 days.  On January 24, Lt. Hanson was cut off from his division while on a high cover flight when he saw Japanese Zeros massing to attack a flight of American bombers.  He attacked, shooting down four of them, and disrupted the enemy formation.