John C Luce

Military

Assigned to 559BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb Mayen Bridge over Notte River, Germany. Shot down by fighters, pilot 1st Lt William O Pile managed to keep the aircraft under control, allowing most of the crew to bale out. Crashed 10 miles past Bastogne. 23-Dec-44. Baled out successfully and captured, held in Bittburg jail along with S/Sgt Milfred L Becker, last seen in good health by Becker when they were separated on the 24-12-44 died in captivity. 28-Dec-44. POW/FOD MACR 11464.



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20518914 / O-686489
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Miss Kam & Blond Rebel
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 23 December 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Eyota, MN 55934, USA 18 December 1920 Son of George Byron and Alice E [Cline] Luce.

Enlisted

Minneapolis, MN, USA 3 June 1942

Other

Shot down

Bastogne, Belgium 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb Mayen Bridge over Notte River, Germany. Shot down by fighters, pilot 1st Lt William O Pile managed to keep the aircraft under control, allowing most of the crew to bale out. Crashed 10 miles past Bastogne. 23-Dec-44. Baled out successfully and captured. MACR 11464.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

54634 Bitburg, Germany 23 December 1944 - 28 December 1944 Held in Bittburg jail along with S/Sgt Milfred L Becker, last seen in good health by Becker when they were separated on the 24-12-44.

Died

28 December 1944 Died in captivity. 28-Dec-44.
Rochester, MN, USA

Based

Chipping Ongar 23 December 1944 Assigned to 559BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Eyota, MN 55934, USA Oak Grove Cemetery Eyota Olmsted County Minnesota, USA