Eugene Martin Crossin

Military
media-32519.jpeg UPL 32519 "Not many pictures like this one come out of the war. You are looking out of an American Flying Fortress at a Nazi Messerschmidt 410 less than 25 feet off the bomber's wing, just as the fighter pulls away to start its dive. The photograph was taken by Sgt Victor A Labruno 22, 419 2nd St Jersey City NY while he was flying as a combat aerial photographer during a US army 8th AF attack on the synthetic oil plants at Brux, near the border of Czechoslovakia. As more than 100 German fighters attacked the formation of Flying Fortress. Sgt LaBruno crouched in the radio room of the Boeing B-17 'Lady Godiva' and caught this unusually near shot of a Nazi fighter. In civilian life, Sgt LaBruno was a photographer in NY City."

Object Number - UPL 32519 - "Not many pictures like this one come out of the war. You are looking out of an American Flying Fortress at a Nazi Messerschmidt 410 less than 25...

Assigned to 562BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF. Mission to Brux, Czech 12-May-44 in B-17 42-97184 'Lady Godiva', attacked by Me410 'Black 13' of of II./ZG26 piloted by Lt Paul Kaschuba. T/Sgt Crossin got hits on the target from his top turret as 'Black 13' banked away. 'Black 13' and Lt Kaschuba did not return to base after the mission.



Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14053986 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A crashed B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97184) of the 388th Bomb Group at Honington, 12 June 1944. Official caption on image: "ISAD 12 June 1944 - 1456 (Crash Landing, B-17G, 42-97184, Honington)."
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady Godiva
  • Unit: 1st Strategic Air Depot 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Luzerne, Pennsylvania 24 August 1915 Son of William R and Catherine [Rowlands] Crossin.

Enlisted

Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA 8 December 1942

Other

Discharged USAAF

USA 5 May 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA 25 May 2004

Buried

1594 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706, USA Saint Marys Cemetery Hanover, Luzerne County, PA

Based

Knettishall Assigned to 562BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF.

Eugene Martin Crossin: Gallery (1 items)