Codes

1st Lt. Lawrence W. Riegel

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The 350th Lawrence W. Riegel Crew (left to right)
Standing:
Edgar L. Herrick - KIA, Charles L Dolby - POW, Joseph R. Johnson - KIA, George H. Prater - POW
Kneeling: Jewell D. Spruell - KIA, Phillip D. Mangan - KIA, Ray S. Deming, Jr - KIA
Nestor A. Celleghin - POW and Ralph Jacobson - WG - Removed from crew at reduction to nine.
This crew was lost at Ruhland September 11, 1944 with six members KIA - 100th Photo Archives
 

1st Lt Lawrence W. Riegel P KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt Joseph R. Johnson CP KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt George H. Prater NAV POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt Charles L. Dolby BOM POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
T/Sgt Ray S. Deming, Jr ROG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
T/Sgt Edgar L. Herrick TTE KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Nestor A. Celleghin BTG POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Phillip D. Mangan WG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Jewell D. Spruell TG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland

350th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 4/7/44. A/C #44-6089 - MACR #8811, Micro-fiche 3234

Eyewitness Report(: "The group in which A/C 089 was flying was attacked by 50 to 70 enemy aircraft. The attack caused at least three of our aircraft to explode and most of the others appeared to be damaged, some were attacked again as stragglers. In a few minutes all but one disappeared beneath the undercast. Since none of them returned no account of the loss of specific aircraft is available. About half of them appeared to be under control as they disappeared into the undercast. Two chutes were seen before the aircraft disappeared, but from which one they came is undetermined,"

Following is a statement by Lt. Dolby in a letter dated 23 July 1945.
"We were attacked by German fighters, Southeast of Dresden, Germany, while on a mission to Ruhland,  Germany on Sept.11, 1944 at about 12:20.  After the first attack we had our interphone knocked out and the oxygen supply under the pilots compartment was on fire.. Due to lack of interphone we could not carry on a conversation and I know nothing of what took place in the rear of the ship. The Navigator,  Lt. Prater and I jumped due to the burning condition of the plane. According to our ball turret gunner who I met at Camp Lucky Strike in France, he said he was blown out of his turret and parachuted to safety, also he mentioned that our vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizers were blown off."  He is S/Sgt Nestor Celleghin.
 

#

Date

Aircraft Nbr & Name

Target

01

7/17/1944

3413-HARD LUCK

AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY

02

7/18/1944

106986-SACK ARTIST

KIEL & HEMMINGSTADT

03

7/19/1944

3413-HARD LUCK

SCHWEINFURT & DUREN

04

7/20/1944

31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II

MERSEBURG

05

7/21/1944

31903-HARD LUCK II

REGENSBURG

06

7/24/1944

31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II

ST LO (GND SUPPORT)

07

7/25/1944

31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II

ST LO (GND SUPPORT)

08

7/28/1944

102657-BOSS LADY

MERSEBURG

09

7/29/1944

102657-BOSS LADY

MERSEBURG

10

8/02/1944

31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II

TERGNIER/LAFERE

11

8/03/1944

3413-HARD LUCK

TROYES (RAIL YARD)

12

8/04/1944

37882-HAPPY-GO-LUCKY

HAMBURG (OIL)

13

8/05/1944

97924-PARTY TONIGHT

MAGDEBURG

14

8/06/1944

97924-PARTY TONIGHT

BERLIN

15

8/07/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

BEAUTOR (BRIDGES)

16

8/08/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

ST. SYLVIAN

17

8/14/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

LUDWIGSHAVEN (OIL)

18

8/15/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

VENLO

19

9/05/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

STUTTGART (AERO ENGS)

20

9/10/1944

37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN

NURNBURG

21

9/11/1944

6089-LEADING LADY

RUHLAND (OIL)

 

 

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