42-31980 Heavenly Body
Delivered Cheyenne 12/1/44; Savannah 23/1/44; Assigned 532BS/381BG [VE-J] Ridgewell 26/5/44; Missing in Action `4m` Berlin 21/6/44 with Roger Dussault, Co-pilot: Bernie Segman, Navigator: Valerio Magnabasco, tog-Ralph Holcomb, Radio Operator: Wendell Lawing, Waist gunner: Alonzo Ehler,Tail gunner: John Mahar (7 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elmer Meier, Ball turret gunner: Howard Corum (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed NE of Schonhauser, 17 miles NW of Prenzlau, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5990.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Bombardier; Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 21 June 1944 |
Revisions
Wendell B Lawing, radio operator and survivor of the 21 June 1944 mission when the plane was shot down. Phone call between James L Loper and Mr. Lawing in 2015. 1st Lt Leonard L Loper, my Dad, and bombardier with the Dussault crew had been transferred to the adjacent plane for this mission due to an injury to the other bombardier. Dad rotated as squadron and element lead bombardier from mission to mission. Dad died in 2004 never knowing that some of his crew survived.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5990 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database