Adriel Wayne Langendoerfer
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Joseph W Jennings Military Papers - 1943-1945
Object Number - UPL 31940 - T. Sgt. Adriel Wayne Langendoerfer
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USSAF. John Daly crew.
Failed to Return (FTR) in B-17 #42-31083. A/C exploded in mid-air near Downham Market, England Killed in Action (KIA)
Awards: AM, PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11100403
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier/Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31313795
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner / Armorer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner / Togglier / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36329211
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
![Master Sergeant James L. Smith a crew chief of the 379th Bomb Group inspects the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Patches" which was blown off by flak and became embedded in the wing, 8 May 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '8/5/44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 319496. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413487.jpg.webp?itok=YJBBrTF7)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Just So, Patches
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 23 March 1944
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ruth L", flown by Lieutenant NL Young, of the 96th Bomb Group flies through a cascade of bombs released by another Fortress over Oranienburg, Germany. Strike camera photo. Handwritten caption on reverse: '22/3/44. Looks like JW code - 92BG? [sic]Supposedly Bremen raid but bombs look like M47.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408680.jpg.webp?itok=47P7nfd_)
- Date: 22 March 1944
- Date: 20 March 1944
- Date: 19 March 1944
- Date: 18 March 1944
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Osage, MO | 1 January 1923 | Son of Adriel and Nelly [Smith] Langendoerfer. |
|
Enlisted |
Jefferson Barracks, MO | 27 December 1942 | Jefferson Barracks, Missouri |
|
Based |
Pyote Army Airfield | 23 September 1943 - 8 December 1943 | B-17 Flying Fortress crew training |
|
Based |
Kimbolton | 20 February 1944 - 11 April 1944 | Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USSAF. |
|
Died |
Barroway Drove, Downham Market PE38 0AJ, UK | 11 April 1944 | |
|
Buried |
12 April 1944 | Interred Cambridge American Cemetery | |
|
Based |
Snettisham | 19 February 1944 | Intensive gunnery training |
|
Buried |
New Haven CemeteryNew Haven,Franklin County, MO | Re-Interred New Haven Cemetery New Haven, Franklin County, Missouri |
Revisions
On Friday July 2, 1948, the Daily Capital News of Jefferson City Missouri, ran a story about the USS Lawrence Victory ship, which "was returning the bodies of 5,374...Americans who lost their lives in Europe during World War II. Included in the number...from this area" was Technical Sergeant Adriel W. Langendoerfer. The article mentioned his training as a Radio Officer.
[Betz, Frank L. and Kenneth H. Cassens editors]. 379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, Volume One: November 1942-July 1945. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2000, p. 302
Combat Chronology; 379th Bombardment Group Anthology, pg 302 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia