Lumir Joseph Prucha

Military
media-48553.jpeg UPL 48553 1LT Lumir Joseph "Lou" Prucha
Pilot
416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF

Object Number - UPL 48553 - 1LT Lumir Joseph "Lou" Prucha Pilot 416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF

Connections

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Units served with

An A-26 Invader (F6-P, serial number 43-22330) nicknamed "For Pete's Sake" of the 416th Bomb Group prepares for take-off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '416 BG Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38018833
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 670th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Nicknames: Carrot Top
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Melun, Alsace

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dodge, Nebraska 29 April 1917
Omaha, Nebraska 16 October 1940 3309 N. 59th Street

Other

Assigned to the 46th BG

Will Rogers Army Airfield, Oklahoma 28 March 1943 Began training in the DB-7 Boston and B-25 Mitchell

Other

Assigned to the 410th BG

Will Rogers Army Airfield, Oklahoma 1 July 1943 Purcha did not go overseas with the 410th BG

Other

Arrived in the ETO

Stornaway Airfield, UK 7 September 1944 Ferried over A-20 #44-484

Other

Assigned to the 416th BG

Wethersfield Airfield, UK 21 September 1944

Other

First 416th BG Combat Mission

Erkelenz, Germany 6 December 1944 Erkelenz, Germany, another defended village was the picture seen through the bombsight. Again this was a PFF mission, and bombing was don thru the clouds. The bombing was done by boxes from 13,000, and 154 x 500 lb. GP’s hurtled thru the clouds to fall on the target. There was little flak, and no fighter action present, and the formation returned to the base for the day.”

Other

Final 416th BG Combat Mission

Plattling, Germany 26 April 1945 Prucha flew 37 combat missions. More information about his tour can be found here: http://rgprucha.com/prucha_brennan/lou_wwii/lou_wwii_combat.htm

Died

Omaha, Nebraska 16 January 1981

Buried/ Commemorated

Elkhorn, Nebraska 19 January 1981 Mount Calvary Cemetery Elkhorn, Douglas County, Nebraska, USA

Lumir Joseph Prucha: Gallery (2 items)