Lt Col. Harry L. Hines USAF Retired

by Michael Hines
(Thousand Oaks, CA)

The story as told by my father was that the Lady Be Good (LBG) circled the base while on its last flight. The crew was sending radio messages requesting directions to the air base. Hines could hear the airplane circulating over the air base. Hines (engineering officer) was going to shoot a signal flair to let the lost LBG crew know they were near the air field. The base commander order Hines not to shoot the signal flair for fear the Germans would find the air base. Hines was threatened with Court Marshall if he used the signal flair. Hines had more experience with the sound of the air plain’s engines than the base commander and knew the airplane was friendly.


Hines suffered with PTSD over the events of that night which lasted until his death in 1996.