Elijah Wayne Lewis
MilitaryA printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.'].
Rear Row, L to R.
Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret,
Roy Avery- Waist Gunner,
Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret,
John Rose- Waist Gunner,
Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner,
Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gunner.
Front Row, L to R.
Matthew Scianameo- Navigator,
Byron Clark- Co-Pilot,
Joseph Korstjens- A/C Commander,
Harvey Harris- Bombardier,
Lt Scragg (Ground Crew Mascot).
The story I got about Lt Scragg was that he was rescued by the Pilot- Lt Joe Korstjens and he stayed in the Officer's Quarters, hence the rank of Lieutenant and during missions he would be found awaiting a pat on the head from the returning Air Combat Crewmen on Bombardier Lt Harvey "Herk " Harris' bunk. When this Crew finished their tour they gave Lt Scragg to the Maintenance Crew for keeping and good luck.
First Heavy Bomber to reach 100 Missions without an abort. Also selected to drop America's first flying bomb during the Grapefruit Mission on 28 May 1944. Roger Freeman Collection
From Co-Pilot Byron B Clark and M/Sgt Dominick DeSalvo Ground crew Chief of "Swamp fire"
Flew on AC # 42-32024 'Swamp Fire' On 28 May 1944 flew 'Grapefruit Mission''Today was the day that the 379th was chosen as one of the three groups to try a new secret weapon. The much talked about glider bombs. They were released on the city of Cologne with good and devastating results. Of the 120 released by 60 aircraft, 80% found their mark. ' This turned out to be more fairy tale than fact. Most adamant statement from historians and those who were on the mission claimed only one of these bombs hit in the city of Cologne. Most accounts prepared since the war claim none of the bombs reached the target
Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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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: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20813461 / O-806088
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Swamp Fire
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Elizabethtown, Hardin County, KY | 27 January 1917 | Son of Claude B and Lelia Lewis. Draft reistration shows DOB 26-Jan-1927. Headstone and markers confirm 27-Jan-1917. |
Enlisted |
Louisville, KY | 15 September 1942 | Louisville, Kentucky |
Died |
Elizabethtown, KY | 27 December 1969 | |
Buried |
Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens Elizabethtown, Hardin County, KY | Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens Elizabethtown, Hardin County, KY | |
Based |
Kimbolton | Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative