401st Bomb Group (H) Association
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Inge Grondin
7/6/2001 5:49:49 AM
I have a request and need help. On July 20th 1944 a B-17 from the 401st Bomb Group, 613th Squadron called Pistol Packin Mama went down in Wohlsborn, near Weimar. There were 9 crewmen aboard. All parachuted out and landed safely. However, the German civilians killed three of them. And in a brutal way. I know it.
    The KIA's are:
    Navigator-2nd Lt. Owne H. Jorgenson
    Radio Operator-T/Sgt John S. Spirodex
    Tail Gunner S/Sgt Donald H. Schmidt

    The crew members who survived were:
    Pilot-2nd Lt. Kenneth R. Murgatroyd
    Co-pilot 2nd Lt. James E Pennoyer Jr.
    Bombardier-2nd Lt. James K. Elderkin, Jr.
    Engineer-T/Sgt Stanley Lesser
    Ball Turret-S/Sgt Jerome P. Robinson
    Waist Gunner S/Sgt Howard Magnuson

     My brother is mayor of Wohlsborn and he called for help. He wants to put up a monument and a cermony for the KIA's. Now I need help to locate any family members of the 9 crewmen. I will be over there in Germany also.
     Now as for myself, I am ashamed that I come from Germany. Of what those people did. I lived in Weimar and Wohlsborn until 1956. By then I had my fill of the Communists and I escaped. I came to the USA and am a proud American since 1968 and married a lovely yank.
     Thank you so much for helping me to find the families.
     Inge Grondin



l.a.mitchell
7/9/2001 12:00:58 PM


i am sending your message to ken murgatroyd,James elderkin and james pennoyer. don't believe they are on internet.send me your U>S> mail address in event they respond to me and i can tell them how to contact you thanx,lam.
Ken McPherson
7/12/2001 9:15:34 PM
Hello Mr (or Mrs) Mitchell. Wuld you be so kind as to send (via e-mail, is possible) what reponses you received from the surviving crew members of 'Pistol Packin' Mama'. Also ant addresses (snail-mail) would b appreciated. Thank you. Ken McPherson, 8th AFHS, 493rd BGMA & 95th BGMA. Have a good day!! Ken.
l.a.mitchell
7/13/2001 10:30:05 AM

  As of 7/13 no response fro Pistol Packin Mama
Inge  Zimski
6/18/2003 2:44:44 AM
sorry i could not answer a lot sooner. Ima at the moment in ASIA,but i will be returning next week back to the USA. I have many original papers of the surving crewmembers while they were Interigated by the US officials. I also in contact with a few of them. Since i had to go to ASIA on an Emergency i have lost all the addys. If you would be so kind and send them to me i shurely will appreciate it. I was living real close by as the Plane Pistol Pakin Mama came down at my Village. I have photos and many other copies of this particular plane  Thank you Inge
Inge  Zimski
6/18/2003 2:44:48 AM
sorry i could not answer a lot sooner. Ima at the moment in ASIA,but i will be returning next week back to the USA. I have many original papers of the surving crewmembers while they were Interigated by the US officials. I also in contact with a few of them. Since i had to go to ASIA on an Emergency i have lost all the addys. If you would be so kind and send them to me i shurely will appreciate it. I was living real close by as the Plane Pistol Pakin Mama came down at my Village. I have photos and many other copies of this particular plane  Thank you Inge
Modified on 2024/06/23 22:58 by SYSTEM Categorized as Uncategorized