Lewis George Crane
Military
Photo courtesy Marvin Boussu.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.
Object Number - UPL 38911 - From Auburn, NY, Capt. Louis G. Crane joined the 368th Fighter Squadron on 8 September 1944. He flew 60 combat missions with the 359th Fighter Gorup,...
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. 60 x combat missions. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
Awards: AM (6OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
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Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Jolie Hélène, Evelyn/ Sweet Sue
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Kendaia, NY | 21 September 1919 | Son of Chester Daniel and Alice May [Covert] Crane. |
|
Based |
East Wretham | 8 September 1944 | Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 3 March 1945 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). |
|
Died |
Elmira, NY | 6 April 2004 | Lewis graduated from Union Springs High School in Union Springs, NY, joining the US Army in 1941. When war was declared, he took the test and became a "90 day wonder" pilot. At first, he was a pilot trainer until he was shipped to England during WWII. He flew a P-51 Mustang fighter in the European Theater of Operations stationed in East Wretham, Suffolk, England. He was awarded the Air Medal as a Lieutenant on Dec. 12, 1944 at the age of 25. He achieved the rank of Captain by the end of the war. He flew 60 missions over Germany and also one to Peenemunde to destroy the V2 rocket base. He was awarded six oak leaf clusters added to the Air Medal. After the war, he married and worked at a variety of jobs in the Auburn, NY area. He then enrolled in Alfred Ag Tech, graduating with an Associates Degree in Applied Science, Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning in 1952. He then worked at Westinghouse Electric Corporation in management in Horseheads, NY from 1952 to 1982, then spending his retirement years between NY and FL. |
|
Buried |
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Elmira, Chemung County, NY | 9 April 2004 | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Elmira, Chemung County, New York |
|
Other Promotion |
Wretham, Thetford IP24, UK | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. | |
|
Other Promotion |
Wretham, Thetford IP24, UK | Promoted to Captain. | |
| Auburn, NY 13021, USA |
Revisions
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
