42-5232 Available Jones

Delivered Tulsa 18 October 1942; Presque Island 26 November 1942; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-E] Chelveston 13 December 1942. Missing in Action Paris-Billancourt Renault auto works on 4 April 1943. Pilot Morris M. Jones, Co-Pilot Edward T. Logan, Navigator Homer H. Mohr, Bombardier Robert Fabec, Flight engineer/top turret gunner William H. Johnson, Left Waist gunner Miles L. Cooley, Right Waist gunner Allen M. Fitzgerald, Radio Operator Jack O. Luehrs, Ball turret gunner Edward C. Mescher, Tail gunner: John G. Hollenbeck. Soon after bombs away, #42-5232 was attacked by more than 20 fighters. Engines 2 and 3 are hit and belch smoke, the communications system is out. The tip of the left wing is destroyed, the vertical stabilizer pierced, the oxygen supply system is dead and the Fortress loses altitude and contact with the formation. Luehrs and Fitzgerald manage to shoot down 2 of the fighters (other sources mention 3) before their plane is shot down (credited to Hptm Galland (II/JG26). Crashed near Le Vaudreil, 5km north of Louviers (Eure), France, South of Rouen. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 15592.

Edward Mescher was Killed In Action (KIA). Morris Jones, Homer Mohr and John Hollenbeck managed to evade capture for a while, helped by French citizens and Résistance members but were arrested later. Edward Logan, Robert Fabec, William Johnson and Miles Cooley were immediately captured and made Prisoners of War (POW). Two men managed to evade capture, Allen Fitzgerald and Jack Luehrs. See the story of the evasion of Fitzgerald and Luehrs at www.evasioncomete.be >>> Fiches.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39303959
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18026632 and O-726136
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32310842
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12044600
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15071759
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Le Vaudreuil, France 4 April 1943 Shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed in the Eure Department, France.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15592
Research for the pages at www.evasioncomete.org
NARA Escape & Evasion reports : Fitzgerald (E&E 60) and Luehrs (E&E 40)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15592 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database