44-6140 Miss Lace

media-20359.jpeg UPL 20359 1st Lt Gilbert Jerome Schlesinger_Sept 1944_Kimbolton, England

Crew photograph from Howard G Mertens Family collection. Cropped.

Object Number - UPL 20359 - 1st Lt Gilbert Jerome Schlesinger_Sept 1944_Kimbolton, England

Delivered Tulsa, OK 5/14/44; Kearney, NE 5/24/44; Dow Field, Bangor, ME 1/6/44; Assigned 527BS/379BG Kimbolton, England 10/6/44; Missing in Action northeast of Zeitz, Germany on 11/30/44 with 8 crew Killed in Action: 1st Lt Gilbert J Schlesinger, Pilot; 2nd Lt Howard G Mertens, Co-Pilot; 2nd LT Theodore Zivanidis, Bombardier; S Sgt Chester M Durham, Nose Gunner; T Sgt Bernard Bonderski, Top Turret Gunner; S Sgt Charles V Bowles Jr, Radio Operator/2nd Waist Gunner; S Sgt Shirley C Griffith, Ball Turret Gunner; S Sgt Stewart W Schoch, Waist Gunner; sole survivor: S Sgt Eugene S Bush, Tail Gunner (Held as a Prisoner of War); flak, lost right wing in an explosion, went into a steep dive while ablaze, and broke into two sections. Tail/waist crashed near Threna. Nose crashed in District 7, Oberholz Forest, near Großpösna and exploded approximately two minutes after impact. Missing Air Crew Report 11126. MISS LACE.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

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

People

Bernard Bonderski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36624894
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Charles Vernon Bowles

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16129428
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Eugene Scott Bush

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37534103
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Chester Mark Durham

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19128200
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner / Enlisted

Shirley Clare Griffith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20640242
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 30 November 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

AAM entries; Osborne FORTLOG.

Date
Contributorlorelei1026
Changes
Sources

MACR11126

Date
Contributorlorelei1026
Changes
Sources

Missing Air Crew Report 11126; eye witness testimony of Henry N Meyer regarding last visual sighting; eye witness testimony of Eugene S Bush who survived the crash.

Date
Contributorlorelei1026
Changes
Sources

Missing Air Craft Report #11126.

Date
ContributorTerra Inc.
Changes
Sources

MACR 11126 + Ku 3401 contained in it

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11126 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

44-6140: Gallery (7 items)

Object number: UPL 20359 - 1st Lt Gilbert Jerome Schlesinger_Sept 1944...

Object number: UPL 20360 - Nose Gunner: Staff Sergeant Chester Mark Durham

Object number: UPL 20362 - Staff Sergeant Stewart Welton Schoch

Object number: UPL 26579 - 2nd Lt Theodore "Ted" Zivanidis

Object number: UPL 26581 - Staff Sgt Shirley C Griffith

Object number: UPL 26598 - Members of the Miss Lace Crew on 30 Nov 1944 at...