Elmer E. Hasse

Ens. Elmer Hasse served with honor. He entered the Navy at Minot, North Dakota on 14 January 1943. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He was eventually assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.

USS Intrepid participated in the 3rd and 5th Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa Gunto Operation of the Okinawa campaign. The carrier turned to Okinawa as L-Day, the start of the most ambitious amphibious assault of the Pacific war, approached. Between 26 and 27 March 1945, aircraft from USS Intrepid attacked Ryukyus, softening up enemy defensive works. The invasion of Okinawa began on 1 April 1945.

WWII Navy Fighter "Ace", Commander Lester E. Gray Jr., shared an incredible story of heroism and tragedy about a fellow Navy Aircraft Carrier pilot and his great friend Ens. Elmer E. Hasse. Cmdr. Gray and Ens. Hasse flew many missions together all over the Pacific and they shot down several Japanese airplanes and achieved several other victories during WWII. On one mission, they were flying next to each other, as they were reassessing the damage from their mission near Japan. Unfortunately, they came under anti-aircraft fire and Ens. Hasse's plane was shot down, while Cmdr. Gray was flying right next to him. Unfortunately, Ens. Hasse had no chance of making it out of the plane alive.

Cmdr. Gray spoke of the profound sadness of losing his great friend. They both flew off the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier. Cmdr. Lester said that Ens. Hasse's name is interned on the USS Intrepid, as well as in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ens. Hasse was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on March 26, 1945. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Missing in Action" or "Lost at Sea". Remains not recovered.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Haase, New Salem, have received a telegram from the War Department regarding the death of their 21-year-old son, Ensign Elmer Haase, killed during a rocket and strafing mission on March 26. The 1939 New Salem High School graduate spent two years at Jamestown College before enlisting in the Navy Air Corps in 1942. He left by carrier for the South Pacific on February 20. Survivors include two brothers, two sisters.

He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial.