Le Roy Edgar Aulthouse

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23032.jpeg UPL 23032 Widow of Sergeant LeRoy Edgar Aulthouse; Esther Willard (Billie) Aulthouse & her brother Grover Price Prillaman. LeRoy E. Aulthouse

This photo is of my father, Grover Price Prillaman, and his sister, Esther Willard (Billie) Prillaman Althouse. She is the widow of Sergeant LeRoy Edgar Althouse, WAIST GUNNER | 390TH BOMB GROUP. "He was the Right Waist Gunner aboard B-17 tail #42-39887, of the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. The B-17 was nicknamed “Pickle Dropper IV,” in honor of the pilot of the crew, LT Hugh A. Pickell. On June 5, 1944, the B-17 was last seen “burning on the water” off Dieppe, France. There were no survivors of this crew, and no remains were ever recovered." AAM quote.

Object Number - UPL 23032 - Widow of Sergeant LeRoy Edgar Aulthouse; Esther Willard (Billie) Aulthouse & her brother Grover Price Prillaman.

Shot down 5 June 1944 in B-17 #42-39887 "Pickle Dropper IV". Plane crashed into Channel. Killed in Action (KIA).

He was married to Esther W. Aulthouse. His hometown was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and he entered the Air Corps on January 7, 1943. He was the Right Waist Gunner aboard B-17 #42-39887 of the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. The B-17 was nicknamed “Pickle Dropper IV”, in honor of the pilot of the crew, Lt Hugh A. Pickell. On June 5, 1944, the B-17 was last seen “burning on the water” off Dieppe, France. Sgt Aulthouse is still listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35090696
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-755626
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32553930
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15394225
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15320641
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pickle dropper iv
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 5 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA 21 April 1921 Sergeant Leroy E. Aulthouse was born on April 21, 1921, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar H. Aulthouse. His hometown was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Enlisted

7 January 1943 Roanoke, Virginia

Died

Dieppe, France 5 June 1944 On June 5, 1944, the B-17 was last seen “burning on the water” off Dieppe, France. There were no survivors of this crew, and only the remains of Left Waist gunner Joe Carini were recovered.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

English Channel 5 June 1944 in the loss of B-17 #42-39887, off the coast of Dieppe, France

Other

Memorialized

Ardennes American Cemetery, Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium on the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

 

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

ABMC website

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5480
WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
ABMC website

Date
Changes
Sources

IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5480 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Le Roy Edgar Aulthouse: Gallery (2 items)