UPL 27198

IMAGE

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12 1944-01-27 Aircraft: B-17G (#42-31023). Organization: 339BS / 96BG of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk. ......Pilot: Lemanski, Richard F......... Notes: crash landing. Location: Troston, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ As Lt. Lemanski commented, "Not a way to land an airplane but ANY landing you can walk away from is a good landing!"

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-800904
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (QJ-Q, serial number 42-31023) nicknamed "Skyball" of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group that has crash-landed at Honington. Official caption on image: "2138. 1-29-44. Hon. B-17F. 42-31028. M. F.S.A.D."
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Mission

Revisions

Date:
ChangesChanges to collection and caption
Sources

Valerie Lemanski Holley Collection

Date:
ChangesCreated entry with collection, caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Completed 11 missions to Ludwigshaven , Brunswick, Wilhelmshaven........, Frankfort Mission 198.....
, Rostock, Poznan, Belgium, French and Polish objectives. Shot down by ME 109s on the mission to Berlin on 8 March 1944 in B-17 #4231576. Spent 20th and 21st birthdays and fourteen months as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. Was the youngest pilot in the 96th Bomb Group and probably in the 8th AF. Although some seriously injured, all crew members survived to return home safely. Crew was credited with many fighter kills.