Neil H Lathrop

Military

Neil Lathrop served as a pilot with the 364th Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Group. He was shot down on 7 January 1944 in B-17F #42-30386 and Evaded (EVD). The aircraft was crippled by fighters, fire in the bomb bay, two engines out and the elevator controls also shot out. Crashed near Estree Blanche.



Lathrop avoided capture for 116 days and returned to Allied lines on 2 May 1944.



He stayed in the US Air Force after World War II rising to the rank of Major. On 9 May 1952, Lathrop was killed in a test flight of XB-51 #46-0686 at Edwards Air Force Base.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-30386

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Los Angeles, California 30 September 1921

Other

Shot down and evaded

62145 Estrée-Blanche, France 7 January 1944

Died

Edwards AFB, CA, USA 9 May 1952

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Research carried out on evaders by Jean Michel Dozier

For reports of Lathrop's death see:
http://www.whiteeagleaerospace.com/final-flight-martin-xb-51/
http://www.thexhunters.com/xpeditions/xb-51-2_accident.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, 8th AF Losses