42-31152
Delivered Cheyenne 25/9/43; Gr Island 8/10/43; Nashville 12/10/43; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-E] Snetterton 14/10/43; Missing in Action on mission to METZ, France, 1/5/44, with Eugene W. Dingledine; Co-pilot: George R. Smith; Navigator: James K. MacConnell; Bombardier: DiNuncio B. Streett; Flight engineer/Top turret gunner: Vito A. Champa; Radio Operator: John R. Glass; Assistant Radio Operator-Ball turret gunner: John R. Smith; Assistant armorer-Left waist gunner: Otto Strange Jr; Right waist gunner: Lester M. Hutchinson; Armorer-Tail gunner: Gerald E. Sorensen. Flak KOd two engines going out and another on return, crashed near Lanquesaint, a few km NE of Ath, Belgium. Missing Air Crew Report 4237.
James MacConnell, Vito Champa, John Glass and Otto Strange were almost immediately made prisoner. Eugene Dingledine, DiNuncio Streett and John R. Smith were helped in their evasion by the Belgian COMET evasion network, but were later arrested. Lester Hutchinson and George Smith remained hidden in Belgium with the help of COMET and returned to Allied military control after the Liberation of Belgium in September 1944.
Gerald Sorensen joined the Belgian Resistance and was killed, together with Belgian Roger ABEELS, in a skirmish with retreating German troops at Marcq-lez-Enghien on 3 September 1944. They are buried side by side in the Ganshoren-Brussels communal cemetery. See www.evasioncomete.be website and search on 42-31152
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35624150
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer-Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-806979
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33113787
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31306690
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Engineer- waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Station 138
Missions
- Date: 1 May 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Belgium | 1 May 1944 |