George E Luke
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Back row, left to right: S/Sgt Kenneth Grothouse, bombardier;, Lt. Clifton Freeman, pilot; Lt. Hoy Bonnet, co-pilot; Cpt. Welburn, photographer.
Front Row: S/Sgt. James Ley engineer/gunner; Sgt. Lath, tail gunner; Sgt. George Luke, radio operator.
Welburn and Lath were not part of the crew on the day that Freeman's crew was shot down. On that day, Sgt. John Smith was the tail gunner, and Lt. John Smith was the photographer.
Identifications provided in a letter from Lt. Freeman's mother to the mother of James Ley dated November 24, 1944, as part of the James Ley Collection at Grinnell College: https://digital.grinnell.edu/islandora/object/grinnell:jimmy-ley
From Tim Ley, nephew of James Ley
Object Number - UPL 53664 - Lt. Clifton Freeman's crew. Back row, left to right: S/Sgt Kenneth Grothouse, bombardier;, Lt. Clifton Freeman, pilot; Lt. Hoy Bonnet, co-pilot;...
Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ray-Sur-Authie, FR 29-Feb-44; hit by flak stbd engine feathered dropped out of formation salvoed bombs, Crashed Abbeville, FR Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 2455
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![B-26 Marauders, including (serial number 41-34959, SS-O), of the 451st Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group line up for take off, 11 November 1943. Passed for publication 11 Nov 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '63.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413264.jpg.webp?itok=Ml213CQs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 15096863 / O-671919
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17105972
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Denalis Cheechakoo
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Great Saling
- Site type: Cemetery
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Orrville, OH | 23 August 1922 | Son of Harry L Luke. |
|
Died |
Abbeville, France | 29 February 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Ray-Sur-Authie, FR 29-Feb-44 in B-26 41-34856; crashed Abbeville, FR KIA MACR 2455 |
|
Buried |
Re-Interred Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Sec: 34, Site: 4014 | ||
|
Based |
Andrews Field | 29 February 1944 | Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. |