 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back row, left to right...
|
| • |
Charles Moore, bombardier
|
| • |
Jack Burrough, co-pilot
|
| • |
John Landry, pilot
|
| • |
Fred Lowell, navigator
|
|
|
Front row, left to right...
|
| • |
Ed Burr, radio operator
|
| • |
Bill Riggle, tail gunner
|
| • |
Joe Holland, ball turret gunner
|
| • |
Kenneth Hart, nose gunner
|
| • |
Curtis Clauson, engineer
|
| • |
Harold Austin, crew chief
|
|
|
|
Landry Crew 817 Summary
|
|
The Landry Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1641 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 817.
|
|
Lt John Landry signed out for a B-24J, 44-40119. Their ship was nicknamed, NIGHT KNIGHT. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief, S/Sgt Austin flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Schaefer onto the Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
By our count, Lt Landry served as the aircraft commander for Crew 817 for a total of 7 missions. According to Bill Riggle, the crew flew intact on every mission and no one else flew with them.
|
|
On 29 May 44 the 492nd made a bombing run against the oil refineries at Politz. They were first attacked by FW-190s followed by another assult from Me-210s and Me-410s. They bombed their target and the attacks continued. They lost 3 engines and a fire errupted at the waist. The plane spun, throwing Moore, the bombardier, out of the plane without a chute. The rest of the crew were able to bail out. Then the plane rolled over twice before losing one of the wings. It crashed in a swamp near Stettin, about 21 kilometers from Wollin and Pommern.
|
|
After Landry reached the ground he was immediately taken prisoner by a German officer who said, "I am a German officer. What is your target?" Landry couldn't believe the officer's question since it was obvious from the huge plume of black smoke filling the sky over the refinery. Landry pointed to the smoke, but he couldn't hold back from laughing. For that he was pistol-whipped.
|
|
Casualty count: 1 KIA, 9 POW, MACR 5222.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Landry Crew 817
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Landry, John F |
1st Lt |
O-791945 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag VIIA |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Burroughs, Jack |
2nd Lt |
O-699538 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222
Seen name as Burrough
Seen ASN as O-699358 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Lowell, Frederick H |
F/O |
T-124021 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag Luft III |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Moore, Charles P |
2nd Lt |
O-694471 |
KIA, 29 May 44, MACR 5222
Netherlands, Wall of the Missing |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Clauson, Curtis D |
S/Sgt |
36579730 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag Luft IV |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Burr, Edward P |
S/Sgt |
32491335 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222 |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Holland, Joseph B |
Sgt |
19085918 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag Luft IV |
Nose Gunner
MOS 611 |
Hart, Kenneth W |
Sgt |
31296740 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag Luft IV |
Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Riggle, William W |
Sgt |
38447425 |
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, Stalag Luft IV |
Waist Gunner
MOS 611 |
Schaefer, Gerard J |
Sgt |
32014100 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
POW, 29 May 44, MACR 5222, |
| |
Others Who Flew with Landry Crew 817
|
Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Austin, Harold H |
S/Sgt |
16051587 |
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Promoted M/Sgt |
|
Landry Crew 817
492nd BG Mission Record
858th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
|
11 May 44 |
44-40119 |
Mulhouse, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 02 |
|
13 May 44 |
|
Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield
w/the S-3 Officer |
| 03 |
|
23 May 44 |
|
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
|
24 May 44 |
44-40119 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
|
25 May 44 |
44-40119 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
|
27 May 44 |
42-51091 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
|
29 May 44 |
44-40115 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost: 1 KIA, 9 POW, MACR 5222 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
