Leonard Jack Mendelson
Military
Picture from 401st Bomb Group unit history
Object Number - UPL 41678 - 1st Lt Leonard J Mendelson. 401BG.
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Gaston Fox crew. Shot down 10-Apr-44 in B-17 42-31511 'Fool's Luck III'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3939
On 24 Dec 1943 Gorenflos mission: Good visibility and good results characterized the mission, but Mendelson's crewmates had a few anxious moments when 3 bombs became "hung up". They might have exploded in 15 seconds, but Mendelson hurriedly kicked at the bombs and managed to jar them loose in the nick of time.
"We owe our lives to his heroism" said 2nd Lt. Gaston Fox, the pilot.
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
- 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: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-802737
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fools Luck III
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 24 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New York State | 27 May 1921 | Son of Celia Mendelson. |
|
Enlisted |
New York City, NY | 27 June 1942 | New York City, New York |
|
Other Prisoner of war (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 10 April 1944 | Prisoner of war (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Other Baled out POW |
3 miles W of Calais | 10 April 1944 | Shot down 10-Apr-44 in B-17 42-31511 'Fool's Luck III'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3939 |
|
Died |
Hillsborough, NJ | 11 February 2005 | |
|
Buried |
Washington Cemetery South Brunswick, NJ | 15 February 2005 | Washington Cemetery South Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey |
|
Based |
Deenethorpe | 10 April 1944 | Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/29638088
https://www.fold3.com/record/9593725-leonard-j-mendelson
https://www.fold3.com/record/83558517-leonard-j-mendelson
https://www.fold3.com/record/83551839-leonard-j-mendelson
http://www.merkki.com/PageM.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96830092/leonard-j-mendelson
https://www.fold3.com/image/29638088
https://www.fold3.com/record/9593725-leonard-j-mendelson
https://www.fold3.com/record/83558517-leonard-j-mendelson
https://www.fold3.com/record/83551839-leonard-j-mendelson
http://www.merkki.com/PageM.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96830092/leonard-j-mendelson
Added the missing data in the "Summary biography" from the news article attached to the person.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 3939;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3939, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=390
