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1917-1911M
8/22/2016 4:33:00 AM | (size=6)I came across a post here from years ago where several member were discussing B17s named Heavenly Body. My Dad arrived at Ridgewell, England on May 15, 1944. He was a bombardier with the 381st bombardment group (heavy), 352nd squadron. The name of his plane was Heavenly Body with a picture of a young lady in a swimming suit. Dad flew his 35 missions but on his 11th mission he was assigned to another plane as the squadron lead bombardier. That plane's bombardier had been injured by shrapnel and could not operate his bombsight. My understanding is that there would be two lead planes with the Norden bombsights and when they arrived on target the bombsight would release the bombs and that was the signal to all of the other bombers to drop theirs. On this 11 mission to Berlin, their fighter escort did not show up for some reason. Dad was flying in formation adjacent to his regular crew. He reported that he waved to them and they waved back. Then the plane (Heavenly Body) the plane he was normally assigned to with his regular crew was hit, caught on fire and exploded. Dad died in 2004 after a good life but he always though all of his crew had been killed that day….June 21, 1944 Berlin mission.
Years later I was reading an article on CNN regarding B17 flights in Atlanta, GA. In the article they were interviewing an elderly Veteran who described being shot down on June 21, 1944 on a mission to Berlin. That sounded familiar so I took careful note of his name and compared it to a list I had found in a war diary at the 381st site. Sure enough in the diary it is noted by the Author that a new crew had arrived and S Sgt Wendel B Lawing, radio operator was listed as a crew member right next to my Dad’s name, Lt. Leonard L Loper. Yesterday I talked to Mr Lawing for the first time. He is 96 years old and is sharp as a 40 years old. He remembers the details of the missions, the shoot down, his capture, etc. That was 72 years ago….he invited me to come have dinner with him and I intend to and to shake his hand and thank him. I will learn all I can about anything he cares to share. So that particular plane did not survive the war. I might have the tail numbers and if not perhaps Mr Lawing will have them.
What a treat it will be to talk with a Gentleman and hero who served with my Dad 72 years ago. Jim Loper(/size)
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1917-1911M
8/22/2016 2:03:48 PM | I have found the plane listed as B-17 #4231980 Jim
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adm401bga
8/23/2016 3:09:57 AM | Greetings Jim and welcome. Good to know you've made a connection. That is what this group is for. You can also make connections on our FB page and within our organization. We are also planning a Reunion in 2017 to Deenethorpe, England, although this reunion is tentative depending on how many people we can get to sign up by Aug 30th of this month.
And again, welcome. Glad to have you here.
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donaldbyers
8/25/2016 8:58:18 PM | Realize that your dad is from a different group than our's but glad that you have made this connection and will be able to meet him in the near future.
Don Byers
Group Historian
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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