John C Luce
MilitaryAssigned 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth 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
- Date: 23 December 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Willingale
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 |