William Edward Lofton Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOUROn 17 Oct 1944 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to base. Killed in Action (KIA) on 1 April 1945. B-24 A/C #44-10577 'Lucky Penny II'.
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group wait on a jeep. Letter enclosed with print: '[Left to Right] James E Terwilliger- Waist Gunner, Luhter M Clark- Co-pilot, Carl Powell- Navigator, Lattie P Head- Nose Gunner, Nicholas Radosevich- Pilot, Edmund M Survilla- Tail Gunner, Lt ? Lee- Bombardier (Robert Burgess was the Bombardier on the original crew), Joseph D Craft- Radio operator, Robert Victor- Waist Gunner, Robert O Hanson- Engineer- Top Turret. Original Cadre- Model (Crew #41) 734th Squadron, 453rd Bomb](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380672.jpg.webp?itok=L5hegKpe)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15132536
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-713383
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11112254
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose / tail gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18231572
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19061641 / O-716606
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Van Horn, TX | 15 March 1922 | Son of William E Lofton Snr. |
|
Enlisted |
Los Angeles, CA | 18 September 1942 | Los Angeles California |
|
Other Baled out RTD |
Spa, Belgium | 17 October 1944 | On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to base. |
|
Died |
Shotesham, UK | 1 April 1945 | B-24 A/C 44-10577 'Lucky Penny II'. Crashed short timing replaced engine. 1-Apr-45. Crashed Shotesham. Died non Battle (DNB). |
|
Buried |
2 April 1945 | Cambridge American Cemetery Plot B Row 4 Grave 24 | |
| LA County, CA | |||
|
Based |
Old Buckenham | 1 April 1945 | Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
Corrected aircraft number: http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=lofton&Submit7=Go
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Combat Chronology, Unit History / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia