Lenard Evert Moen
MilitaryAssigned to 350BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. Don Cielewich crew. 3 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Mannheim/Ludwigshaven in B-17 42-3413 'Hard Luck!' 14-Aug-44; Shot down by flak*. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 7899
*"We were not hit by flak, we were not smoking, and we did not dive away from the formation. The engines all died within seconds of each other as the tanks ran dry. That happened while we were still a half mile behind the formation and as we took a 180 degree turn heading for home the group also made a large 180 degree sweeping turn toward Ludwigshaven on an 8 minute bomb run. The crew bailed out and Hard Luck glided to it's death in a mountainous forest."
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33053006
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-559633
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-818603
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703360
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35224797
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hard Luck !
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Morristown, Pennsylvania, USA | 22 November 1923 | Son of Wilbur L Moen. |
|
Enlisted |
Los Angeles, CA | 4 November 1942 | Los Angeles, California |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 14 August 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Died |
19 December 2019 | ||
|
Buried |
Rose Hills Memorial Park Whittier, Los Angeles County, CA | 22 December 2019 | Rose Hills Memorial Park Whittier, Los Angeles County, California |
|
Based |
Thorpe Abbotts | 14 August 1944 | Assigned to 350BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added an association to the 100th BG listed in the A/C #42-3413 description section.
Added POW Camp info to the POW event and a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to Stalag Luft 4 per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
MACR 7899 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database