Military
"Bail Out!" by Wilbur Stites of the 453rd Bomb Group. This account tells the story of his bailing out and subsequent rescue by two American sergeants in a jeep.
2nd Lt William Edward Lofton, 453BG.
On 17 Oct 1944 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to base. Killed in Action (KIA) on 1 April 1945. B-24 A/C #44-10577 'Lucky Penny II'.
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. 35 x combat missions. ETD
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Nose / tail gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Substitute tail gunner, on 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, A/C received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Regular tail gunner for Lofton crew flying on B-24 'Lucky Penny II'. Missed mission on 17-Oct-44 due to influenza. ETD
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to base. RTD
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD. He was later a teacher,...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, A/C received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew bailed out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Nose Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Voice intercepts | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. 35 x combat missions. ETD
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Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Squadron
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed and burned 1-Apr-45 at Shotesham. Salvaged 4-Apr-45.
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 734th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group. The aircraft completed its first mission on 9 May 1944. It was the second aircraft to be named Lucky Penny after Penelope, the pet dog of Pilot Nicholas Radosevich.
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Military site : airfield
Allocated to the Eighth Air Force as a bomber base in 1942, Old Buckenham was built during 1942-43 with three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. The station was the exclusive home for the 453rd Bomb Group, equipped...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Van Horn, TX | 15 March 1922 |
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Son of William E Lofton Snr. |
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| Lived in | LA County, CA | 1942 |
| Enlisted | Los Angeles, CA | 18 September 1942 |
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Los Angeles California |
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| Based | Old Buckenham | 1944 – 1 April 1945 |
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Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Baled out RTD | Spa, Belgium | 17 October 1944 |
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On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to base. |
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| Died | Shotesham, UK | 1 April 1945 |
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B-24 A/C 44-10577 'Lucky Penny II'. Crashed short timing replaced engine. 1-Apr-45. Crashed Shotesham. Died non Battle (DNB). |
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| Buried | 2 April 1945 | |
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Cambridge American Cemetery |
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