Robert N. Hansen was born on October 27, 1915, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. He was the son of George N. Hansen and Mabel S. Hansen. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24 #42-95078 nicknamed ''Hare Force'' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24 #42-95078 departed RAF Tibenham, England, as part of a U.S. Eighth Air Force mission to bomb industrial targets at Kassel, Germany. After successfully reaching the target and releasing its bombs, the formation began the return flight to England. Still, the 445th Bomb Group became separated from the main bomber stream due to navigational error. Without adequate fighter protection, the isolated formation was attacked by large numbers of German Luftwaffe fighters. During the intense air battle, the B-24 sustained severe damage and caught fire near the bomb bay. Several crew members were wounded, and three men bailed out of the burning aircraft, surviving but later being captured by German forces and held as prisoners of war. The crippled bomber could not remain airborne and ultimately crashed near Richelsdorf, Germany, killing the remaining crew members or causing their loss during attempted escape.

2Lt Hansen was declared Missing in Action and officially declared dead on September 28, 1945. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. He also has a cenotaph in the Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org, weremember.abmc.gov