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339th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • The insignia of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group.

    The insignia of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group.

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  • Corporal William D. Vint, 96th Bomb Group

    Corporal William D. Vint, 96th Bomb Group

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  • 'Last Mission [05 Jan 1944] My Seventh & Last Mission in WW2' by Ed Davidson. An account of his experiences as pilot on that mission, written up in December 1944 and revised in October 2016.

    'Last Mission [05 Jan 1944] My Seventh & Last Mission in WW2' by Ed Davidson. An account of his experiences as pilot on that mission, written up in December 1944 and revised in October 2016.

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  • Crew of the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, October 1943. Standing, left to right: Ken Wehrhan, Ken Kroggel, Robert Drumhiller, Thomas Michan, Jack Barrett and James Radcliff. Kneeling, left to right: Ed Davidson, John Johnston, Maurice Lynch and Clarence Trubey.

    Crew of the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, October 1943. Standing, left to right: Ken Wehrhan, Ken Kroggel, Robert Drumhiller, Thomas Michan, Jack Barrett and James Radcliff. Kneeling, left to right: Ed Davidson, John Johnston, Maurice Lynch and Clarence Trubey.

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  • Crew of the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, 2 January 1944. Standing, left to right: Ken Wehrhan, Ken Kroggel, Jack Barrett, Robert Drumhiller, James Radcliff and Thomas Michan. Kneeling, left to right: Ed Davidson, John Johnston, Clarence Trubey and Maurice Lynch.

    Crew of the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, 2 January 1944. Standing, left to right: Ken Wehrhan, Ken Kroggel, Jack Barrett, Robert Drumhiller, James Radcliff and Thomas Michan. Kneeling, left to right: Ed Davidson, John Johnston, Clarence Trubey and Maurice Lynch.

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  • 1st. Lt. Richard F. Lemanski Pilot Completed 11 missions to Ludwigshaven, Brunswick, Wilhelmshaven, Frankfort, 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 / Squadron Leader 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. Mission 252: The primary target is the ball bearing plant at Erkner, a suburb of Berlin; enemy opposition is fierce and 37 bombers and 16 fighters are lost; 320 of 414 B-17s and 150 of 209 B-24s dispatched hit the primary; 36 B-17s hit Wildau and targets of opportunity; 33 B-24s hit Berlin and targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 63-17-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 28 B-17s and 9 B-24s are lost, 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; casualties are 4 KIA, 14 WIA and 364 MIA. Escort is provided by 104 P-38s, 613 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 174 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims/losses are: 1. P-38s claim 9-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 MIA. 2. P-47s claim 49-6-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 P-47s are lost, 13 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA. 3. P-51s claim 29-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 4 MIA. An additional 8-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed on the ground. #42-31576 - B-17G Group Squadron Sq Code A/C Code 96BG 339BS MIA 1944-03-08 - MACR #: 3426 Notes 42-31576 Delivered: Denver 20/11/43; Gt Falls 25/11/43; Kearney 22/12/43; Romulus 31/12/43; Presque Is 2/1/44; Assigned: 339BS/96BG [QJ-G] Snetterton 16/1/44; MIA Erkner 8/3/44 Pilot:...... 1st. Lt. Richard F. Lemanski,........ Co-Pilot: Jim Buttermore, Navigator: Leroy Chappell, Bombardier: Frank Sewell, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Matt Mendys, Radio Operator: Dave Hohm, Ball Turret Gunner: Phil Kierstead, Waist Gunner: Jeff Roberts, Waist Gunner: Edgar Currie, Tail Gunner: Dean Shuck (10POW); Enemy aircraft, crashed between Wegenstedt & Calvorden, 13 miles NE of Helmstadt A/Fd, Germany. MACR 3426. Source B-17 Master Log - Dave Osbourne

    1st. Lt. Richard F. Lemanski Pilot Completed 11 missions to Ludwigshaven, Brunswick, Wilhelmshaven, Frankfort, 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 / Squadron Leader 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. Mission 252: The primary target is the ball bearing plant at Erkner, a suburb of Berlin; enemy opposition is fierce and 37 bombers and 16 fighters are lost; 320 of 414 B-17s and 150 of 209 B-24s dispatched hit the primary; 36 B-17s hit Wildau and targets of opportunity; 33 B-24s hit Berlin and targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 63-17-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 28 B-17s and 9 B-24s are lost, 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; casualties are 4 KIA, 14 WIA and 364 MIA. Escort is provided by 104 P-38s, 613 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 174 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims/losses are: 1. P-38s claim 9-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 MIA. 2. P-47s claim 49-6-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 P-47s are lost, 13 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA. 3. P-51s claim 29-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 4 MIA. An additional 8-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed on the ground. #42-31576 - B-17G Group Squadron Sq Code A/C Code 96BG 339BS MIA 1944-03-08 - MACR #: 3426 Notes 42-31576 Delivered: Denver 20/11/43; Gt Falls 25/11/43; Kearney 22/12/43; Romulus 31/12/43; Presque Is 2/1/44; Assigned: 339BS/96BG [QJ-G] Snetterton 16/1/44; MIA Erkner 8/3/44 Pilot:...... 1st. Lt. Richard F. Lemanski,........ Co-Pilot: Jim Buttermore, Navigator: Leroy Chappell, Bombardier: Frank Sewell, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Matt Mendys, Radio Operator: Dave Hohm, Ball Turret Gunner: Phil Kierstead, Waist Gunner: Jeff Roberts, Waist Gunner: Edgar Currie, Tail Gunner: Dean Shuck (10POW); Enemy aircraft, crashed between Wegenstedt & Calvorden, 13 miles NE of Helmstadt A/Fd, Germany. MACR 3426. Source B-17 Master Log - Dave Osbourne

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  • Crew D34 , 339th Squadron, 96th Bomb Group Front Row L - R 1st Lt. Richard F. Lemanski Pilot, 2nd Lt Edward L. Garney Co Pilot, 2nd Lt. Leroy Chappell Navigator, 2nd Lt. Stephen O'Lear Bombardier Top Row S.Sgt Mathew J. Mendeys Flt. Engineer, S. Sgt. Edgar A. Currie Waist Gunner, T. Sgt David A. Rohm Radio Operator, S. Sgt Jeff D. Roberts Waist Gunner, S. Sgt Dean L. Shuck Tail Gunner, S. Sgt Philip G. Kierstead Ball Turret Gunner. The aircraft is B-17, 42-6153, 'Good Pickin' associated with the 452nd Bomb Group.

    Crew D34 , 339th Squadron, 96th Bomb Group Front Row L - R 1st Lt. Richard F. Lemanski Pilot, 2nd Lt Edward L. Garney Co Pilot, 2nd Lt. Leroy Chappell Navigator, 2nd Lt. Stephen O'Lear Bombardier Top Row S.Sgt Mathew J. Mendeys Flt. Engineer, S. Sgt. Edgar A. Currie Waist Gunner, T. Sgt David A. Rohm Radio Operator, S. Sgt Jeff D. Roberts Waist Gunner, S. Sgt Dean L. Shuck Tail Gunner, S. Sgt Philip G. Kierstead Ball Turret Gunner. The aircraft is B-17, 42-6153, 'Good Pickin' associated with the 452nd Bomb Group.

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  • 339th BS group photo, Blackheart.

    339th BS group photo, Blackheart.

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  • Charred remains of Black Heart the bomber my grandfather, John L Trujillo was tail gunner on.

    Charred remains of Black Heart the bomber my grandfather, John L Trujillo was tail gunner on.

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  • Ardennes American Cemetery; Plot C Row 1 Grave 21

    Ardennes American Cemetery; Plot C Row 1 Grave 21

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Structure

Part of
  • 96th Bomb Group

    96th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945. ...

Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Snetterton Heath

Connections

People

  • Philip Aaronson

    Military | Corporal | 96th Bomb Group

  • Raymond Ackerman

    Military | Captain | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Aug 1944

  • Everett Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Feb 1945

  • Glen Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 96th Bomb Group
    assigned May 1944

  • Peter Adams

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4237910. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Jesse Adcock

    Military | Corporal | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Dec 1944

  • Leonard Addeesio

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 96th Bomb Group
    Paper Doll' downed by enemy fighters 28, July 1943 and crashed in the North Sea.

  • Joseph Addison

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned July 1944.

  • Benjamin Aishe

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group

  • Bernard Albers

    Military | Technical Sergeant | 96th Bomb Group
    assigned May 1944

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Aircraft

  • 42-102444

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 3/3/44; Gr Island 30/3/44; Dow Fd 6/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-S] Snetterton 7/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Leo Green, Co-pilot: Simon Nesbitt, Navigator: Jim Hesketh, Bombardier: Dan Benia, Flight engineer/top...

  • 42-102482

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Harry Eye, Co-pilot: Leland Baker, Ball turret gunner: Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3 Killed in...

  • 42-102502

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 9/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 100BG Thorpe Abbotts 7/4/44; transferred 339BS/96BG [QJ-G] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Politz 25/8/44 with Chas Jennings, Co-pilot: Styrlin Scogin, Navigator: Delmar...

  • 42-102552

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 12/3/44; Gr Island 31/3/44; Dow Fd 21/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-J] Snetterton 22/4/44; Missing in Action Nucourt, Fr 22/6/44 with Jay Horn, Co-pilot: John Murray, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Henry Morris, Ball turret...

  • 42-102571

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 15/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Grenier 5/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-U] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Brux 12/5/44 with Bob Laurie, Co-pilot: Leo Rangers, Bombardier: Bob Little, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Whitman,...

  • 42-102586 Little Joe

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Hunter 14/4/44; Dow Fd 26/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-Z] Snetterton 1/5/44; Salvaged 31/5/45. LITTLE JOE. ...

  • 42-102612

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Hunter 11/4/44; Grenier 18/5/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-U] Snetterton 21/5/44; Missing in Action Magdeburg 20/6/44 with Dick DeBrandes, Co-pilot: Glen Harrison, Navigator: Bill Northington, Bombardier: Joe Armstrong, Radio...

  • 42-102686

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26 March 1944; Kearney 13 April 1944; Grenier 29 April 1944. Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-M] Snetterton Heath 3 May 1944. Had been assigned to Pilot Jack L. Hodson and was destroyed by enemy aircraft on the ground at Poltava, in the...

  • 42-107104

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 22/4/44; Denver 2/3/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25/4/44; no ops, transferred 339BS/96BG [QJ-D] Snetterton 1/5/44; Missing in Action Schwerte/Soest 31/5/44 with Matt Ciembronowicz, Co-pilot: Scott Limbach, Navigator:...

  • 42-107123

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 2 March 1944; Kansas City 7 March 1944; Grenier 21 April 1944. Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25 April 1944 (no operations). Transferred 339BS/96BG [BX- ] Horham 28 April 1944. Missing in Action Brux, Czechoslovakia, 12 May 1944 with Pilot...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
09 April 2015 22:30:20 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:14:13 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:48 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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