WWII AAF 303rd Bomb Group 'Hell's Angels' / POW medal & document group.

Description

I just found this at an old estate in Gresham, OR. Hensley was born in Baird, TX in 1920. He passed away in Gresham, OR in 1997.  A terrific lot of items all to Tech. Sgt. James C. Hensley, radio operator / gunner, 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group - 'Hell's Angels' . Interestingly, his dd214 shows 27 days of prior service in the U.S. Marine Corps. His USMC discharge is here showing it was due to a medical issue. But he soon ends up back in the AAF. He was awarded  the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal w/ one battle star, and two Air Medals - Jan. 20 44 and Feb. 18 44 - both while flying with the 358th. Hensley had completed 10 missions (One of his aircraft officer's reports, as a wittness in a document concerning disability, that Hensley may have flown on another mission as a substitute crewman as well). On his 11th (possibly 12th) mission, on 6 February, 1944, the ship was crippled by flak over Dyon, France. The crew bailed out and he was captured. One summary that I ran across online reported that Hensley escaped with a British POW buddy and they eventually linked up with British forces.
In addition to his boxed (unnamed) Air Medal, a loose Victory medal, and a 8th AAF patch, you will also get all the paper. There is a lot of paper here. Some is worn/tattered, but most is in good shape with some being in plastic sheets. There is more, but some of the contents include: Original newspaper clipping with photo reporting him as MIA over France. War claims Commission letter awarding him 435.00 for his internment. Separation Qualification Record showing him trained as a radio operator mechanic, gunner, and general clerk. Honorable Discharge / Enlisted Record and Report of Separation. Record of Award for Air Medal. Various special orders. Several misc German bills and paper items (camp script). Postcards from his POW camp. In one he requests that letters go to Stalag Luft 2, but packages be sent to Stalg Luft 6. I also see his name here, on a SHAEF document, listing POWs known to have been in Buchenwald. Original MIA telegram. Very cool Bugs Bunny Flexible Gunnery School certificate, Original Golden Dragon 180th Meridian crossing certificate dated 1947. A few period newspapers (very worn and folded). Two fantastic pin-up girl type sketches of women that the family said were proposals for the ship's nose art. One sketch is signed "Rosebud 45". There is what looks like a large original crew photo, a couple original family photos, several copies of the orginal crew photo, some reunion photos, etc. There is just too much to list but LOTS of original military / service related documents.
An unusually well documented 8th AF Hells Angels, POW group. And I will start it at .99!