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Donald
Lee
Hand
POW (Korea)

Home:

Victorville

, 

California

Donald Hand was the member of a crew of 13 in a B-29 that was shot down by a MiG aircraft while on a photo reconnaissance mission over Sinaju, North Korea, on July 4, 1952. Two men were reported missing in action, but he was one of eleven members of the crew that was captured, held as a Prisoner of War, and repatriated at the war’s end.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Airman Second Class

    Batallion:

    91st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Korea)

    Action Date:

    July 4, 1952 – September 10, 1953
    NARA Database: Repatriated Korean Conflict Prisoners of War, 7/5/1950 – 10/6/1954

    Airman Second Class Donald Lee Hand (ASN: 19371141), United States Air Force, was captured by communist forces after he was shot down over North Korea on 4 July 1952, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his release on 10 September 1953, during Operation Big Switch at the end of the war.