Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Robert Allen HANNUM
Robert A. "Bob' Hannum, 73, (obit)
Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Tuesday, July 23, 1996
survived Nazi POW camp in WWII
Robert A. ""Bob'' Hannum, 73, of St. Petersburg, Fla., a former Media man who survived a plane crash an imprisonment as a prisoner of war during World War II, died July 18 at his home. A resident of Florida since 1957, Mr. Hannum was preparing for a July 28 gathering of his POW buddies when he suffered an apparent heart attack.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was a bombardier aboard a B-B-17 plane that was shot down in 1944 near Leipzig, Germany. He endured a grueling 154-mile walk for 15 days during which he survived on four potatoes and some carrots before being captured by the Nazis.
Mr. Hannum was among prisoners being transported to the prison camp in a boxcar when the train was strafed by U.S. planes near Munich and a dozen men were killed. Subsequently, he was incarcerated at the prison camp for 190 days until the forces of Gen. George Patton liberated the prisoners on April 29, 1945.
A past commander of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, he described his pre-capture ordeal in an interview during the 1990 convention of that organization.
He said he was nearly starved, having lost 36 pounds during the 15 days after the plane crash and had badly swollen feet when he stumbled into a police station.
""The officers were nice until the Gestapo man came,'' he said. ""Then they acted distant.'' He also reported that ""the Gestapo man put a gun to my head, and I said, "Ho, ho, ho.' That humiliated him in front of the police, so he hit me with the gun, knocking out a tooth, and left my lying on the ground.''
Born and reared in Delaware County, Mr. Hannum grew up in the Bortondale section of Middletown and lived on Forge Road, Middletown, before moving to Florida. After the war, Mr. Hannum remained in the reserves until 1956.
A graduate of the former Media High School, Mr. Hannum was employed as a construction foreman by the Arters Brothers and Albert Richardson construction companies in Delaware County. While working for Richardson, he was involved in the building of the original Delaware County National Bank building in Media.
After moving to St. Petersburg, Mr. Hannum built boats and worked as a frame and trim contractor. From 1968 to 1973, he owned and operated the 300 Grille Restaurant in St. Petersburg.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Florence Teal Hannum; three daughters, Nancy Thornton of Bowling Green, Media; Janice Sue Robertson of St. Petersburg, and Dale Jean Bustillo of Springfield, Mass; a son, Robert A. Hannum Jr. of Golden Valley, Ariz.; a sister, Doris Wagner of Tucson, Ariz., six grandchildren; and other relatives.
A graveside military honor service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bay Pines National Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Arrangements are by the John S. Rhodes East Chapel, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Florida State Chapter, American Ex-Prisoners of War, 544 Oak Island Circle, Plant City, Fla. 33565.
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