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Military
B-17F 41-24541 'Spook' Lawrence G Dunnica crew 358th BS, 303rd BG, 8th AF USAAF. (Back L-R) 1st Lt Lawrence G Dunnica (Pilot), 2nd Lt Orson E Pacey (CoPilot), 1st Lt Leonard E Thornton (Nav), 2nd Lt James H Montgomery (Bomb (Front L-R) T/Sgt Harry W Tucker (Eng), S/Sgt Philip T Cascio (Ball), T/Sgt Bertis W Holland (Radio), S/Sgt Robert L Dew (R Waist), S/Sgt Claude F Taylor (Tail).
2LT Leonard E. Thornton was assigned as Navigator with the Lawrence G. Dunnica crew on B-17F 41-24541 [VK-B] "Spook" 303BG/358BS at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 3-Sep-42. He arrived with the aircraft on 24-Oct-42 at Molesworth, UK. He participated in 11 Operations - 3 Aborted with B-17F 41-24541 and 2 Operations - 1 aborted with B-17F 41-24577 (See Biography events)
Shot down 16 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24541 'Spook' while serving as Navigator. The aircraft was attacked by ME-109s when it descended to assist another aircraft. Went down in Channel off Brest Peninsula. The target was St. Nazaire. Killed in Action (KIA). 4 crew members survived to become Prisoner of War (POW)s. 303rd personnel list and Losses show him as navigator.
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels" was assigned to 358BS/303BG [VK-D] Bangor 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth 24-Oct-42; in landing accident with Irl E. Baldwin 26-Apr-43; slated to RAF 100 Squadron, but retained by 803rd BS ATD (American Training...
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
...
12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
...
30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Texas | |
| Assigned to Aircraft | Battle Creek, MI, USA | 3 September 1942 |
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Assigend as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan |
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| Arrived at Station | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 24 October 1942 |
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Arrived with B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK. |
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| Mission #1 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. (RTB OK). |
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| Mission #2 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #3 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lillie, France. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #4 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission. |
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| Mission #5 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #6 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission. |
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| Mission #7 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the torpedo storage areas at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission. |
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| Mission #8 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the Fives Company Locomotive Works at Lillie, France (RTB OK). |
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| Mission #9 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #10 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission. |
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| Mission #11 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany (RTB OK). |
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| Mission #12 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but weather forced the recall of the entire 303BG despatch (RTB OK) |
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| Killed in Action (KIA) | English Channel | 16 February 1943 |
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Killed when aircraft was shot down by fighters and crashed into the English Channel off of the Brest Peninsula, France. |
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| Mission #13 2LT Leonard E. Thornton w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS to bomb the port area at St. Nazaire, France. Aircraft was shot down by fighters and he was Killed in Action (KIA). |
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| Commemorated | Saint-James, France | 1945 |
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Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Brittany American Cemetery. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 August 2015 18:55:47 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-43 Edited out duplicate mission event. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:52:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 16-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:47:49 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 14-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:37:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 4-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:34:12 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 2-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:29:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:26:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:23:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:20:26 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:17:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 20-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:15:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 12-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:12:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:09:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:06:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 22-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 18:02:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Assigned to Aircraft and Arrival at Station events per 303BG website Lawrence G. Dunnica crew page, Gary Moncur, HIstorian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-358-dunnica.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:55:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Operations participation to Summary Biography and Made connections to Aircraft and Missions per 303Bg website Mission Reprots, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 February 2015 18:11:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2015 . Corrected SN added KIA event per MACR 15476; Added decorations and Commemorated event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position and minor edits to Biography based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:18:36 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15476 / MACR 15476, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 77, Might in Flight Daily Diary of Hell's Angels by Harry Gobrect pp. 137-8 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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