42-97269

Delivered Cheyenne 12/2/44; Dalhart 2/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 22/4/44; transferred 381BG Ridgewell 22/4/44; no ops, transferred 337BS/96BG [AW-U] Snetterton 28/4/44; Missing in Action Karlsruhe 27/5/44 with John Zeigler, Co-pilot: Joe Gold, Navigator: Jim McLaughlin, Bombardier: Aaron Miller, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leon Sweatt, Radio Operator: Mike Lapetina, Ball turret gunner: Chas Chusing, Waist gunner: Bill Humbird, Waist gunner: Sheldon Trusty,Tail gunner: Max Thompson (10 Killed in Action); mid air coll with 42-102515 (96BG); crashed Vily-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Treport, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 5161.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Aaron I Miller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Three airmen of the 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group inspect the battle damaged tail of their B-17 Flying Fortress (AW-O, serial number 42-38133) nicknamed "Reluctant Dragon". They are from left to right: Second Lieutenant John C. Flemynk, the bombardier, from Chicago, Illinois; Technical Sergeant Leon H. Sweatt, the top turret gunner and engineer, from Divine, Texas; and Second Lieutenant Jerry T. Musser, the pilot, from Coral Gables, Florida. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Appears to be AW-O, 2381

Leon Hayes Sweatt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18048549
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Max R Thompson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Sheldon J Trusty

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

John W Ziegler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

France 27 May 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5161 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database