Harold P Loch

Military
media-25234.jpeg UPL 25234 Crew of the Battle-weary, but triumphant, "Memphis Belle" which made twenty-five bombing missions over Europe are shown: L to R Back Row: T/Sgt. Robert J Hanson, Garfield, Wash., Radio Operator; T/Sgt. Harold P Loch, Green Bay, Wisc. holding 'Stuka', Top Turret Gunner; Capt Vincent B Evans, Henderson, TX., Bomb Capt Robert N Morgan, Asherville, NC., Pilot.
L to R Front Row: S/Sgt Cecil N Scott, Altoona, PA., Ball Turret. S/Sgt Clarence B Winchell, Oak Park, IL. L Waist gunner. S/Sgt John P Quinlan, Yonkers, NY., Tail gunner. S/Sgt Casimer A Nastal, Detroit, MI. R Waist gunner.

NARA Ref 342-FH-3A06266-23971AC.

Object Number - UPL 25234 - Crew of the Battle-weary, but triumphant, "Memphis Belle" which made twenty-five bombing missions over Europe are shown: L to R Back Row: T/Sgt....

Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Native of Wisconsin, he joined the USAAC in 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In February 1943, Loch was assigned to the B-17 bomber 'Memphis Belle' as the flight engineer and top turret gunner, replacing Eugene Adkins. On 17-May-43, the bomber and her crew would ultimately become the first to fly all of it's required twenty-five mission tour in the European theater.



Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.



Post war: He entered the construction business and eventually founded his own home construction company. Also served the state of Wisconsin as the Brown County Register of Deeds from 1947 until 1974.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Lieutenant-General Jacob L. Devers adresses a bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group in front of their B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle". Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Belle
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Green Bay, WI, USA 29 November 1919 Son of Joseph and Mary [Ronk] Loch.

Enlisted

Fort Sheridan, IL, USA 17 November 1941

Died

Brown County, WI, USA 12 November 2004
Brown County, WI, USA

Based

Bassingbourn Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

War bonds tour

United States War bond tour with Memphis Belle across the US.

Buried

Green Bay, WI, USA Fort Howard Memorial Park Green Bay Brown County Wisconsin, USA

Harold P Loch: Gallery (6 items)