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Lt. Melvin Kodas

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Related Page: 2nd Lt Ivan . W. Rosenbaum
 

Melvin Kodas 351st Crew (left to right)
Kneeling: Ellis A. Lalonde - BTG, John F. Curran - TG, Melvin Kodas - P, Joseph L. Straus or Strauss - BOM
Standing: Arnold E. Bennett - NAV, Robert G. Mellem - CP, Perry C. Peckham - TTE
Edwin (NMI) Villa - WG, Bernard W. Guza - ROG.
100th Photo Archives
 

2nd Lt Ivan . W. Rosenbaum P FEH -- --
2nd Lt Thomas J. Slaven, Jr CP FEH -- --
F/O Arnold E. Bennett NAV FEH -- --
2nd Lt Joseph L. Straus BOM CPT 20/4/45 ORANIENBURG, MY
Cpl Bernard W. Guza ROG FEH -- --
Cpl Perry C. Peckham TTE FEH -- --
Cpl Ellis A. LaLonde WG FEH -- --
Cpl Edwin Villa WG FEH -- --
Cpl John F. Curran TG FEH -- --

351st Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 24/12/44. Crew # 69

Jan 4, 1945 while returning from training mission at Thorpe Abbotts, crashed A/C#338523 on landing. 2nd Lt Ivan Rosenbaum and 2nd Lt Thomas Slaven were both injured in the crash and hospitalized. They were removed from the crew, and Rosenbaum was replaced by Lt Melvin Kodas. Crew became known as "KODAS KIDS". Crew would fly with a different Co-Pilot on most missions. The missions are listed below with co-pilots listed.

Combat Missions of 2nd Lt Joseph Straus. . . (mpf 2000)
Nbr Date Target Comments Notes
01 10/1/45 COLOGNE A/C Skyway Chariot-Co-Pilot-Capt. Albrecht Bombed Dusseldorf by mistake
02 13/1/45 MAINZ Rhine River Bridge Co-Pilot- F/O Raymond Stiller
03 14/1/45 DERBEN Oil Storage Co-Pilot-F/O Raymond Stiller
04 17/1/45 HAMBURG Oil Factory Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Paul Batterman
05 28/1/45 DUISBURG RR Bridge Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
06 29/1/45 KASSEL Tank factory Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
07 3/2/45 BERLIN City Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
08 6/2/45 ZWICKAU Oil plant Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
09 9/2/45 WEIMER Tank factory Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
10 15/2/45 COTTBUS-ST Nav-Lt John Gross Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
11 21/2/45 NURNBURG RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
12 22/2/45 WEHENGER TO Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
13 23/2/45 TREUCHTLINGEN RR Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
14 25/2/45 MUNICH RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
15 26/2/45 BERLIN RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
16 2/3/45 DRESDEN -- Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
17 7/3/45 SIEGEN RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
18 8/3/45 GEISSEN RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
19 10/3/45 DORTMUND RR Yards Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
20 11/3/45 HAMBURG Oil Plant Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
21 15/3/45 ORANIENBURG RR Yards Nav-Lt John Gross Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
22 18/3/45 BERLIN-RR Nav-Lt John Gross Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
23 21/3/45 PLAUEN Tank factory Nav-Lt John Gross Co-Pilot-2nd Lt Robert G. Mellem
CPT – 35th mission

Captain Melvin Kodas last mission with Crew (Mission #23)

Capt. Melvin L. Kodas arrived at Thorpe Abbotts in May/June 1944. No exact record of his assignment has been established yet but it is believed he came to the group as a spare co-pilot.

MISSIONS OF CAPT. KODAS:

Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Pos Aircraft Target
7/6/1944 17 154 MAIN A. R S/SGT TG 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 NESSER N. J. S/SGT LWG 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 WILLIAMS W. P. S/SGT RWG 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 BARNES D. B. S/SGT BTG 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 MORROW J. A. T/SGT TTE 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 MALGREW R. M. T/SGT ROG 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 CONOVER B. E. LT BOM 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 KNAPP S. J. LT NAV 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 KODAS M. L. LT CP 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 17 154 HERRES F. J. LT P 97806 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Pos Aircraft Target
7/11/1944 07 157 DOTTOVIANO M. F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 EWING W. R. S/SGT TG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 GENTRY W. H. M/SGT LWG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 CALDWELL F. A. S/SGT RWG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 KROMER J. C. T/SGT BTG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 TREBNIK A. C. T/SGT ROG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 KINKADE V. I. LT NAV 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 KODAS M. L. LT CP 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 GUSTAFSON C. C. LT P 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 07 157 PRATT L. M. T/SGT TTE 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Pos Aircraft Target
7/12/1944 07 158 KINKADE V. I. LT NAV 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 PRATT L. M. T/SGT TTE 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 GUSTAFSON C. C. LT P 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 KODAS M. L. LT CP 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 TREBNIK A. C. T/SGT ROG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 KROMER J. C. T/SGT BTG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 CALDWELL F. A. S/SGT RWG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 KAZMIERSKI S. A S/SGT LWG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 EWING W. R. S/SGT TG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 07 158 DOTTOVIANO M. F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Pos Aircraft Target
7/14/1944 08 160 HARNDEN C. R. S/SGT TG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 STOPPEL A. C. S/SGT LWG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 PATRICK R. S/SGT RWG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 GEIGLE W. A. S/SGT BTG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 COOPER J. P. T/SGT ROG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 HOLDITCH W. W. T/SGT TTE 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 GREENE B. R. S/SGT TOG 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 HEYNEMAN R. L. LT NAV 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 KODAS M. L. LT CP 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 08 160 TRAPNELL J. LT P 107211 SOUTH OF FRANCE
Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Pos Aircraft Target
7/17/1944 08 161 HARNDEN C. R. S/SGT TG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 STOPPEL A. C. S/SGT LWG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 PATRICK R. S/SGT RWG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 GEIGLE W. A. S/SGT BTG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 COOPER J. P. T/SGT ROG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 HOLDITCH W. W. T/SGT TTE 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 GREENE B. R. S/SGT TOG 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 HEYNEMAN R. L. LT NAV 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 KODAS M. L. LT CP 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
7/17/1944 08 161 TRAPNELL J. LT P 102977 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY

Letter confirming crew bailout of a portion of this crew (courtesy of James Heyneman – May, 2003):

349TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) ARMY AIR FORCES
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 569

4 August 1944

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

On 17 July 1944 at 0925 hours the following Combat Crew, assigned to this organization, parachuted from an abandoned B-17G somewhere over England. Aircraft was abandoned account of fire.

1st Lt. Harold L. Heyneman 0-681539 Bombardier
2nd Lt. Joseph Trapnell IV 0-818761 Pilot
2nd Lt. Melvin L. Kodas 0-503283 Copilot
T/Sgt Murry W. Holditch 18178502 Top Turret Gunner
T/Sgt. John P. Cooper 32931713 Radio Operator Gunner
Sgt Adam C. Stoppel 17088192 Left Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert Patrick 14065993 Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. William A. Geigle 33188079 Ball Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. Clare R. Harnden 16084649 Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Byron R. Greene 31289048 Toggelier

FRED W. CRAFT JR
1st Lt.. Air Corps.
Asst Ops Officer.

It is speculated that Lt Kodas was injured in this bail out and does not show up on missions until 9/9/1944:

Date Crew Mission Last Name Init Rank Target
9/9/1944 PFF 192 TERMINELLO W. F. LT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 KODAS M. L. LT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 GILLSION J. S LT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 RUBICK F. A. LT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 QUIJADA L. SGT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 HEGER R. L. T/SGT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 MADDOX J. H. LT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 PALMER T. A. S/SGT DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 ZELLER J. L. MAJOR DUSSELDORF
9/9/1944 PFF 192 HARTOS C. J. S/SGT DUSSELDORF

10 SEP 44 THIS CREW WITH ROSENTHAL AS COMMAND PILOT CRASHED LANDED IN FRANCE - LEAD CREW SEPTEMBER 10, 1944, NURNBURG PFF A/C 42-97770:

MAJOR ROBERT "ROSIE" ROSENTHAL COMMAND PILOT
1ST LT WILLIAM F. TERMINELLO, JR PILOT
1ST LT MELVIN KODAS FORMATION OFFICER/TAIL GUNNER
2ND LT STEWART J. GILLSON NAVIGATOR
CAPT. WOODROW W. MCGILL COMMAND NAVIGATOR
LT GREGORY MADDOX RADAR OPERATOR
2ND LT FRANK RUBICK BOMBARDIER
S/SGT RUSSELL L. HEGER TOP TURRET ENGINEER
S/SGT LOUIS QUIJADA RADIO OPERATOR GUNNER
SGT THOMAS A. PALMER WAIST GUNNER
SGT GEORGE J. HARTOS WAIST GUNNER

CAPT KODAS AS A COMMAND PILOT:

KIEL 3 APRIL, 1945 KODAS, WOFFORD D-SQDN LEAD 44-8849 EP-J "PARD"
---- 13 APRIL, 1945 KODAS, GRIFFITH D-SQDN LEAD 44-8776 LN-U PFF ( MISSION SCRUBBED)
ROYAN 14 APRIL, 1945 KODAS, WOFFORD C SQDN LEAD 44-8849 EP J "PARD"
ROYAN 15 APRIL, 1945 KODAS, DAWSON B-SQDN LEAD 44-8908 LD-W PFF
CHOWHOUND PRACTICE MISSION 25 APRIL, 1945 KODAS, EVANS D-SQDN LEAD 44-8794 LD-B PFF

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