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Back row, left to right...
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James Lewis, pilot
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Bowen Ehrnman, co-pilot
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John Hart, bombardier
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John Farrell, navigator
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Front row, left to right...
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Al Contioso, first engineer
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Warren Rudolph, nose gunner
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John Riolo, crew chief
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Ralph Williams, radio operator
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Howard Heckmann, ball turret gunner
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Joseph Ciullo, tail gunner
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Lewis Crew 813 Summary
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The Lewis Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1653 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 813.
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While training at Alamogordo, Sgt Bullock suffered a perforated eardrum, thusgrounded from air duties. It's unknown where Bullock went but records show he was no longer with the 492nd. This happened just before the Group's departure to England. Bullock's position was never replaced. The crew flew their missions without a ball turret gunner.
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Capt James Lewis signed out for a B-24J, 44-40133. According to Howard Heckmann, they named their plane, UNINVITED. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief S/Sgt Riolo flew with them taking Bullock's vacant spot.
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By our count, Capt Lewis flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 807 for a total of 2 missions. This is consistent with Howard Heckmann's memory.
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Shortly after arriving to North Pickenham the crew swapped navigators with the McMurray Crew 801. Theory is that since Lt Hedges and Capt Lewis were both from the same neighborhood in Cheyenne, Wyoming, they wanted to fly together. We are still trying to confirm when the switch was made and if Lt Farrell flew his first mission with Lewis or McMurray.
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On 19 May 44, Capt Lewis flew as the lead ship of the B section (high right) on a bombing run over Brunswick, Germany. Also flying with the crew was Lt Rogers (858th Squadron Operations Officer) and Lt Lutonsky as a Pilotage Navigator. By then Lt Farrell had already changed crews with Lt Hedges from the McMurray Crew 801. Records show he was on a four day pass along with the officers of the Landry Crew 817, Miller Crew 810 and McMurray Crew 801.
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The J A Hey Casualty Report says the Lewis Crew was the fourth plane downed by a pass of about forty FW-190s. The Crew's gunners said they saw the planes on each side of them get hit before they got nailed. Only three gunners were able to bail out and survive. 8 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 5245.
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The plane crashed within the city of Hannover on Spannhagen Street. The Germans buried the bodies at the local cemetery. After the war, all but two were brought back home.
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Howard Heckmann, waist gunner, says he vividly recalls the planes on each of his wings getting hit first. "Then we got riddled with 20mm cannon fire," he said. "I don't think anyone in the front was still alive," He pointed out that the bombs were still in the racks. If anyone up front was still alive he would have salvoed them. "I could see the top turret gunner (Contioso) lying dead on the catwalk. It was obvious no one was flying the plane and we had to get out."
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There were only three men in the back. Tail gunner Warren Rudolph had been wounded in his back and one arm. Howard and the other waist gunner, Joe Ciullo, helped Warren get his chute on and pushed him out of the plane. Then they jumped. All three landed near Mandelsloh. See: Mandelsloh Story, linked at right under Stories.
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There seems to be some question about Lt Ehrnman's fate. We found him listed in the NARA AAD POW file. It included a notation that said he died as a POW. No camp or other details were given. Since Lt Rogers was flying in the co-pilot's seat, no one can say exactly where Ehrnman was at the time of attack. This fits Heckmann's account that no one was flying the plane. Therefore, we suspect he did survive the initial attack but was severely wounded, jumped out and then died in a German hospital after he was found.
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German reports also state that the plane's serial number was clearly visible after it crashed in Hannover. One has to wonder if Lt Ehrman or someone else had salvoed the bombs somewhere between Mandelsloh and Hannover.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Lewis Crew 813
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Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Lewis, James L |
Capt |
O-1699505 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried in the USA |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Ehrnman, Bowen T Jr |
2nd Lt |
O-699364 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried at Ardennes, B-33-51
Seen name as Erhmann and Ehvmann |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Farrell, John P |
2nd Lt |
O-704120 |
Reassigned to McMurray Crew 801
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG
Name seen spelled "Farrall" or John "F" |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Hart, John C |
2nd Lt |
O-698011 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried in the USA |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Contioso, Alfred A |
S/Sgt |
39038529 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Wall of the Missing, Netherlands |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Williams, Ralph S |
S/Sgt |
34382012 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Heckmann, Howard R |
Sgt |
16135493 |
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5245, Stalag Luft IV |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Ciullo, Joseph A |
Sgt |
11103580 |
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5245, Stalag Luft IV
Seen name as Cuillo |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Rudolph, Warren W |
Sgt |
16144839 |
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5245, Stalag Luft IV |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Bullock, Thomas A |
Sgt |
36593645 |
Grounded for medical reasons
Reassignment unknown |
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Others Who Flew with Lewis Crew 813
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Riole, John P |
S/Sgt |
12038816 |
Flew to England with the crew
Transferred to 857th BS |
Staff Officer
MOS 2161 |
Rogers, James P |
1st Lt |
O-429700 |
858th Squadron Operations Officer
Flew in the co-pilot seat
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried at Ardennes, B-43-14 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Hedges, Robert E |
2nd Lt |
O-685606 |
From McMurray Crew 801
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried in the USA |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Lutonsky, Luke F |
1st Lt |
O-659951 |
Group Navigator
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5245
Buried in the USA |
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Lewis Crew 813
492nd BG Mission Record
858th Bomb Squadron
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Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
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12 May 44 |
44-40133 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Led Section C |
| 02 |
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19 May 44 |
44-40133 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lost 8 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 5245 |
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