Ferdinand A Lancour

Military

Assigned to 325BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. 9-Dec-44 raid to Stuttgart aboard B-17 42-97141; “Sgt. Ferdinand A Lancour of the 325th Squadron, engineer of 2nd Lt Harry S Culver’s crew, displayed considerable courage in attempting to close open-and-jammed bomb bay doors. Improvising a tool, Sgt Lancour prevailed upon two crew members to hold him head downward; dangling precariously with 27,500 feet of space between himself and the earth, he tried in vain to repair the damaged doors. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, crew members were loud in their praise of Sgt Lancour’s initiative and fortitude.”

Completed 33 x combat missions. Hit by flak and landed in Sweden on 18-Mar-45 in B-17 Flag Ship 42-97288 Interned (INT). MACR 13150



Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-771619
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-A, serial number 42-97141) of the 92nd Bomb Group. Image via William E "Doc" Furniss, 92nd Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'NV-A, [illegible] 297141.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mary Jane II
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Flagship
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group

Missions

A B-24 Liberator of the 467th Bomb Group flies over Berlin during a mission. 18 March 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '18/3/45 Berlin.'
  • Date: 18 March 1945
  • Date: 17 March 1945
  • Date: 14 March 1945
  • Official Description:
  • Date: 9 December 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Perkins, MI 19 April 1922 Son of Ferdinand and Mathilda [Beauchamp] Lancour.

Enlisted

Kalamazoo, MI 5 May 1943

Other

Interned (INT)

Malmo, Sweden 18 March 1945 Hit by flak and landed in Sweden on 18-Mar-45 in B-17 Flag Ship 42-97288 Interned (INT). MACR 13150

Other

Discharged USAAF

31 October 1945

Died

Escanaba, MI 9 October 1973

Buried

West Ford River Cemetery, Ford River, MI 14 October 1973 West Ford River Cemetery Ford River, Delta County, MI

Based

Podington Assigned to 325BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF.