Laverne Ellis Woods

Military

Shot down 31 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29895 'Black Swan'. Prisoner of War (POW).



Verne was the co-pilot on Stuart Mendelsohn's crew aboard the Duke of Paducah. December 30, 1943, he was flying as pilot on The Black Swan with Mendelsohn as co-pilot. After the bomb run, they encountered two German FW-190s. They were hit by several shells and Mendelsohn was killed instantly. Verne continued to fly for some time, but he signaled for everyone to evacuate. He evaded German troops for over a week, but was eventually captured and spent the remainder of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft I. (Written by Wes Lundsberg)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

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

People

Porter Dudley Clemens

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19122414
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Warren L Ellis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-750185
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Rollin E Gater

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35488672
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Richard George Hensley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6569055
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Larry C Hull

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12126905
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-29895

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Black Swan
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Duke of Paducah" of the 91st Bomb Group.

42-37736

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Duke of Paducah
  • Unit: 324th Bomb Squadron 91st Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Lexington, MA 12 March 2016

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an association to A/C #42-37736 per info attached to media UPL 51047.

 

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://www.91stbombgroup.com/Ragged_Irregular/RI_2016_April_V49_N2.pdf

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 1975

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1975 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database