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Posted by Alan Morton Lead Aircraft #42-97638 was shot down on October 7, 1944. The 457th Bomb Group started flying combat missions on February 21, 1944 out of England ... that's a reasonably short period of time. The 457th Bomb Group records do not identify when this aircraft arrived at Glatton to start flying missions. As you might imagine, the first thing on everyone's mind was not giving an aircraft a name; as the flight and maintenance crews were busy loading armament and bombs on board for a mission. If and when the time was taken to paint a name on the aircraft and take a photo of same ... the aircraft was shot down on a mission to Politz and listed as "Failed to Return - Flak." I'm certain some Flight Crew members took snap shots of themselves along side the Aircraft "Follow Me" ... but the web site does not have any to share. As for October 7, 1944 the following were listed as "Missing In Action" (MIA) aboard Lead A/C #42-97638:
on 6/18/2007, 4:48 pm, in reply to ""Follow Me" 42-97638 "
75.83.113.51
Hi Don ...
Lt William H. Flannery - pilot
Lt Jewell L. Lowery - co-pilot
Lt John H. Schloendorn - bombardier
T/Sgt Duane Stowitz - radio operator
T/Sgt Lloyd K. Lagassa - engineer
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