Laverne Ellis Woods
MilitaryShot 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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33325292
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15110512 / O-672379
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12090499
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747961
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
Lexington, MA | 12 March 2016 |
Revisions
Added an association to A/C #42-37736 per info attached to media UPL 51047.
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