COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
LT WILLIAM G. LAKIN P KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NOBALL)
LT KEITH A. SPRAGUE CP CPT 25 FEB 44 REGENSBURG, AC FACTORY SN# 0-746210
LT ROBERT G. MILAM NAV CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
LT DUNCAN L. McCORMAC BOM CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT JAMES W. CUNNINGHAM TTE CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT EUGENE E. BEISTER ROG CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT CLARENCE A. BUTTS BTG CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT ALFRED J. MICHINI WG CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT DANIEL F. FEAGINS WG CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
SGT THOMAS A. KENDALL TG CPT 28 FEB 44 MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL)
350TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH IN SEP 1943.
LAKIN BECAME A LEAD PILOT AND SPRAGUE TOOK OVER AS PILOT OF THIS CREW. LETTER TO jb FROM KEITH SPRAGUE STATED ALL OF THE CREW BUT LAKIN COMPLETED A TOUR, SPRAGUE FINISHING WITH REGENSBURG ON 25 FEB 44 AND BILL LAKIN FLEW WITH THE CREW ON THE 28TH OF FEB, 1944 TO COMPLETE THEIR TOUR. THE TARGET WAS A NO BALL TO MARQUENVILLE. THE CREW'S SHIP WAS NAMED "FLYING JENNY".
BILL LAKIN WAS FLYING WITH COL ROBERT H. KELLY WHEN KIA ON 28 APR 44 (SOTTEVAST). KELLY COMMANDED THE 100TH FOR ONLY A WEEK AND TWO DAYS BEFORE DECIDING TO BUMP THE 100TH'S BEST KNOWN FLIGHT LEADER (JACK SWARTOUT) AND LEAD HIMSELF. THE RESULTS WERE FOREBODING; TWO AIRCRAFT LOST WHEN THE COLONEL ELECTED TO HOLD THE BOMBS ON THE FIRST RUN AND MADE A SECOND RUN ALONG THE SAME TRACK. COL KELLY WAS KIA THIS MISSION.
The following form contents were entered on 31st Jul 1Date = 31 Jul 1 02:02:07subject = 100thBG Error Reportmessages = 165email = kande@sosinet.netuname = Keith A. Spraguecomments = Lt Yandell S. "Pete" Warren, 350th. Was a Copilot with Don Mitchell. Pete finished his mission as my copilot on thr 25th Feb. 1944 Mission to Regensberg.
KEITH A. SPRAGUE SN# 0-746210
MY COMBAT MISSIONS OVER EUROPE
SEPT. 23 1943-FEB 25, 1944
ARMY AIR FORCE STATION #139
THORPE ABBOTTS, NORFOLK, ENGLAND
8TH AIR FORCE, THIRD DIVISION
100TH BOMB GROUP (H), 350TH SQUADRON
(THESE NOTES ARE TAKEN FROM Lt McCORMAC (FIRST 8 MISSIONS) AND LT SPRAGUE'S ACCOUNTS AS THEY WERE WRITTEN AT THE TIME…Keith Sprague)
1. 23/09/43 VANNES, FRANCE, OUR FIRST MISSION. BOMBED A GERMAN AIRFIELD. SAW OUR FIST ENEMY FIGHTER ATTACKS. 14 FW 190's. VETICAL STABILIZER HIT.
2. 27/09/43 EMDEN, GERMANY, BOMB RACK MALFUNCTION, UNABLE TO SALVO OR TOGGLE OFF THE BOMBS. THE FLAK WAS ROUGH. TARGET: GERMAN SEAPORT
3. 02/10/43 EMDEN, GERMANY, MODERATE FLAK, 14 FW 190's CAME IN FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, USUALLY IN PAIRS TARGET: DOCKS.
4. 04/10/43 HANAU, GERMANY, DEEPEST PENETRATION YET. LITTLE OPPOSITION, FLAK QUITE HEAVY, 2 FW 190's, 1,000 LB BOMBS. TARGET: RUBBER WORKS AND FACTORIES
5. 14/10/43 SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY, LONG HARD FLIGHT, LOTS OF OPPOSITION. FW 190's, Me 109's, Ju88's. FLAK WAS HEAVY AND CLOSE OVER THE TARGET SEVERAL HITS ON THE PLANE. BUD BUTTS SHOT ONE DOWN FROM THE BALL TURRET AND TOM KENDALL GOT ONE FROM THE TAIL GUNNERS POSITION. TARGET: BALL BEARINGS. (NOTE mpf) FLEW WITH 390TH BG ON THIS MISSION)
6. 03/11/43 WILHELMSHAVEN, GERMANY, THE EASIEST MISSIONSO FAR. GREAT PROTECTION BY P-47's LOTS OF CLOUDS, NO ENEMY FIGHTERS AND VERY LITTLE FLAK. TARGET: SUB PENS.
7. 05/11/43 GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY, FLEW STRAIGHT UP THE RUHR VALLEY(HAPPY VALLEY). HIT BY FLAK NUMEROUS TIMES NUMBER THREE PROP HUB HIT AND WE WERE UNABLE TO FEATHER THE PROP AND IT
WINDMILLED ALL THE WAY HOME. WE DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION AND 2 P-47'S ESCORTED US HOME. TARGET: SYNTHETIC OIL PLANT
8. 07/11/43 DUREN, GERMANY, SAW THE TARGET MILES BACK. THE LEADER DUMPED THE BOMBS IN A FOREST. THE BOMBS WERE INCENDIARY AND HIT IN A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN. THEY CAUSED A HUGE FIRE BUT LITTLE DAMAGE.
9. 16/11/43 RJUKAN, NORWAY, FLEW AT 12,000 FT WITH 5X1000 LB BOMBS. MILK RUN, NO FIGHERS NO FLAK. BOMBED POWER PLANT? NORWAY IS A COLD BARREN PLACE. FLEW LEAD OF SECOND ELEMENT LOW SQUADRON. TARGET: HYDROELECTRIC (HEAVY WATER)
10. 19/11/43 GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY, WHO SAID? DIDN'T SEE THE VALLEY EVEN LET ALONE THE TARGET 12X500 LB BOMBS FLEW WITH VAN STEENIS (A/C HARD LUCK). AS A SPARE, ENDED UP #3, SECOND ELEMENT, LEAD SQUADRON. SAW ACCURATE FLAK AT THE COAST GOING IN. GOOD FIGHTER COVER THANK GOD. NEVER SAW SUCH FLUBBING AROUND, 17's ALL OVER GERMAN GOING ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. PLOWED HELL OUT OF SOME FARMERS FIELD. NEVER WIN THE WAR THAT WAY. PATHFINDER AT 23,000 FT. TARGET: SYNTHETIC OIL
11. 29/11/43 BREMEN, GERMANY, SORTIE, MISSION COULD BE. I HOPE. BREMEN AT 27,000 FT. LEAD OF THE LOW SQUADRON 4X500, 20X100 INCENDIARIES. LEFT THE FORMATION OVER ENEMY TERRITORY(GERMANY) NO FLAK, FAIR FIGHTER COVER, LOTS OF CLOUDS. TARGET: INDUSTRIAL AREA, PATHFINDER MISSION.
NEITHER MAC OR I HAVE VERY GOOD INFORMATION ON THIS MISSION SO I WILL WING IT AS I RECALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME. WE ABORTED SOMEWHERE OVER GERMANY AS OUR FUEL SUPPLY WAS DWINDLING RAPIDLY AS WE FLEW IN FORMATION. AS WE RETURNED TOWARD OUR BASE IN A FUEL SAVING MODE, OUR FUEL INCREASED AND BY THE TIME WE WERE ON THE GROUND WE HAD AN AMPLE SUPPLY! NEEDLES TO SAY THERE WERE SOME VERY POINTED QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED. OUR ONLY REPLY WAS TO STATE THEIR OUR OPINION IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE IN FORMATION WE WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL LONG BEFORE RETURNING TO THE BASE. CONSEQUENTLY MAINTENANCE DID A COMPLETE CHECK OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY FOUND A MEMBRANE OF SOME SORT SOMEWHERE IN THE SUPPLY SIDE OF EACH WINGS TOKYO TANK THAT RESTRICTED THE FLOW TO THE MAIN TANKS. I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE HISTORY OF THIS SHIP BUT APPARENTLY AS LONDA AS THE DEMANDS OF HIGH ALTITUDE FORMATION FLYING WERE NOT NECESSARY THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS NORMAL.
12. 30/11/43 SOLINGEN, GERMANY, DAMN GOOD PATHFINDER. FIGHTER COVER MAN ALIVE. HALF THE GROUPS ABORTED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. THERE WERE 6 FIGHTERS FOR EVERY B-17. P-47's P-38's AND I'LL BE DAMNED THE SPIT IX SHOWED ALSO. NINE SQUADRONS. WE FLEW WITH THE 390TH, THE 100TH NEVER DID FORM UP. FLEW AS THE ONLY SHIP IN THE #3 ELEMENT OF THE HIGH
SQUADRON, MORE OR LESS. FLUBBED AROUND MOST OF THE TIME. ACCURATE FLAK OVER HAPPY VALLEY. ONLY GOT ONE HOLE IN THE COWL OF #3 ENGINE. 24,000-28,000 FT WITH 4X500 LB BOMBS AND 20X100 INCENDIARIES. TARGET: CITY
13. 05/12/43 BORDEAUX-MERIGNAC, FRANCE, NO FLAK, FOUR FIGHTERS JUST ABOVE THE UNDERCAST. OH YES, THERE WAS SOME FLAK ABOUT 1,000 YARDS OFF TO THE LEFT AND LOW. BROUGHT THE BOMBS BACK
BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS. FLEW LEAD OF THE LOW SQUADRON. 21,000 FT WITH 10X500 LB BOMBS AND FULL TOKYO TANKS. TARGET: AIRFIELD
14. 20/12/43 BREMEN, GERMANY, THIS TIME WE LEAD THE LOW SQUADRON. WE SURE HAD ONE HELL OF A TIME. GROUPS CONVERGED OVER THE TARGET. WE ENDED UP FLYING OFF OF THE 390TH WHEN LEAVING THE TARGET. FOUND THE 100TH OK AND FLEW HOME WITH THEM. FLAK WAS HEAVY BUT NOT ACCURATE. NO HOLES BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHY! PATHFINDER SHOW BUT THE TARGET WAS CLEAR SO WE BOMBED OFF THE GROUP LEADER. WE SHOULD HAVE HIT THE TARGET. IT WAS BIG ENOUGH! THE FIGHTER COVER WAS GOOD. THE 51's STAYED WITH US FROM THE TARGET TO THE COAST. NO ENEMY FIGHTERS THAT COULD BE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED. NO DIRECT ATTACKS. WE FLEW AT 27,000 FEET LEFT THE COAST AT 19,000 FT. BOMB LOAD WAS
42X100 INCENDIARIES AND 500 GALS IN TOKYOS.
15. 22/12/43 MUNSTER, GERMANY, MISSED I'LL BET YOU. DROPPED OUR BOMBS BEFORE WE SAW ANY FLAK. FLEW LEAD OFF THE HIGH SQUADRON. COMPOSITE GROUP, 95TH LEADING. STRICTLY P.P.---LEAD SQUDRON HAD 9 SHIPS, HI SQUADRON HAD 9 SHIPS. PATHFINDER DEAL. 40X100 WITH 600 GAL IN THE TOKYOS. GOOD FIGHTER SUPPORT, P-38's, P-51's, P-47's 27,000 FT.TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
16. 24/12/43 ROCKET INSTALLATIONS, FRANCE, THE ROCKETS ARE TRAINED ON LONDON, SOUTH HAMPTON AND BRISTOL. LOCATED JUST INLAND FROM THE COAST APPROXIMATELY 4-20MILES. QUITE REVOLUTIONARY FOR THE 8TH AIR FORCE. WE WENT IN AT 12,000 FT AND SQUADRONS PEELED OFF AT 30 SEC INERVALS TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL RUNS ON THE TARGET.WE WERE HIGH SQUADRON AND THIRD OVER THE TARGET. BELIEVE WE HIT IT--NOT TOO GOOD BUT GOOD ENOUGH. FIGHER COVER WAS SOMETHING FOR THE BOOKS. LOW-LEVEL
AND HIGH COVER WITH SOME COVERING INLAND 30-40 MILES. NO E/A SEEN. SAW THE HOME BASE OF THE ABBEVILLE KIDS BUT NO SHIPS ON THE FIELD. SAW SOME FLAK BUT NONE WAS FIRED AT US. THIS WAS OFF THE COAST ON THE WAY OUT. CARRIED 16X300 DEMOS AND 150 GALS IN THE TOKYOS. FLEW #2 LEAD ELEMENT OF THE HIGH SQUADRON.TARGET: ST.JOSEPH au BOIS FRANCE, V WEAPONS
17. 28/12/43 PARIS, FRANCE, I JUST RODE ALONG IN THE NOSE TO BE GOING. CAPT CARNELL (OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR 350TH BS…mpf) RODE CP. I FLEW A COUPLE OF HOURS ON THE WAY HOME. LEAD OF THE HIGH SQUADRON. BILL DID A GOOD JOB. WE REALLY HIT THE TARGET. IT WAS CLEAR AS A BELL AND WE SAW PARIS FOR SURE. THE EIFFEL TOWER REALLY SHOWED UP. WE HAD GOOD FIGHTER COVER ALL THE WAY IN AND OUT. NO ENEMY A/C WERE SEEN. FLAK WAS PRETTY HEAVY BUT WE ONLY GOT ONE HOLE IN THE LEFT WING. IT WAS ACCURATE BUT JUST A LITTLE OFF TO THE LEFT. ONE BATTERY OF APPX 8 GUNS WAS ALSO SHOOTING JUST IN FRONT OF US ON COURSE AND AT OUR ALTITUDE. WE FLEW AT 23,000 FT. 12X500 LB BOMBS, 75 GAL IN EACH TOKYO.
18. 03/02/44 WILHELMSHAVEN, GERMANY, FIRST MISSION AS A PILOT AND WE HAD QUITE A TIME. BOMBED WILHELMSHAVEN THIS TIME 10X500. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER WE HIT THE TARGET OR EMDEN. WE FLEW THIRD ELEMENT OF THE HIGH SQ. 100TH BG. MADE ONE OF THE MISERABLE
NITE TAKE OFFS. WE HAD ONE HELL OF A HEAD WIND COMING OUT AND IT TOOK US OFF COURSE. WE LOST # 1 ENGINE--SUPERCHARGER QUIT JUST BOOM! THE PROP FEATHERING SYSTEM WOULDN'T WORK. WE DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION OVER THE NORTH SEA SUPPOSEDLY! WE FLEW ALONG THE EDGE OF A STORM RATHER THAN FLY THROUGH IT WE WERE REPORTED AS HOT NEWS WHEN WE TRUNED BACK TOWARDS GERMANY TO MISS FLAK. LET DOWN THRU A HOLE SO WE WOULD HAVE OUR ENGINE AGAIN AND NOT HAVE TO FLY THRU ICE. REACHED 6,000 FT AND LO AND BEHOLD WE WERE DIRECTLY OVER THE ZYDER ZEE. WOW! I'LL TELL YOU FOR SURE WE FAIRLY WELL GOT OUT OF THERE IN A HURRY. THAT WAS REALLY PRETTY BUT I GUESS WE DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT THO. OUR LUCKY DAY. CRYAN WAS CP AND BECKER WAS THE NAVIGATOR. NO. 30 FOR OLD HARD LUCK. IT HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINES IN "413" AND WE PUT ON THE 400 HOUR MARK. HAD 400 GALS IN THE TOKYOS AND 10X500 DEMOS, 28,000 FT AND LOTS OF WEATHER. TARGET: WILHELMSHAVEN, CITY.
19. 04/02/44 FRANKFURT, GERMANY, PATHFINDER. WE REALLY WENT WHISTLING OVER THERE. FLEW THIRD ELEMENT OF HIGH SQUADRON UNTIL WE HIT THE ENEMY COAST AND THEN WE FILLED IN SECOND ELEMENT OF HI SQUADRON PUT 31 ON "413" TODAY AND REALLY RAN SWELL. WE SURE SAW A LOT OF FLAK BUT ONLY GOT ONE SMALL HOLE IN #2 NARCELLE. SHIPS IN LEAD SQ GOT SHOT UP PRETTY BADLY. SAW A LOT OF FIGHTERS BUT NOT A SHOT WAS FIRED. WE CARRIED 10X500 LB, 800 GALS IN THE TOKYOS, 24,000 FT ALTITUDE. WE ALSO HAD A FIRE IN THE RADIO ROOM AT ALTITUDE JUST BEFORE LEAVING THE ENGLISH COAST. THE COMMAND SET DYNAMOTOR BURNT UP TARGET: STEELWORKS
20. 05/02/44 VILLACOUBLAY, FRANCE, VILLACOUBLAY, AN AIRFIELD SOUTHWEST OF PARIS ABOUT 4 MILES. THE FLAK THERE IS STILL BIG AND BLACK BUT WE DIDN'T GET HIT. WARREN FLEW COPILOT THIS TIME. WE PUT OUR FIRST MISSION ON "537". IT SURE IS A GOOD SHIP BUT ONCE THE TAIL GETS DOWN AND THE AIRSPEED HITS 145 ALL HELL AND HIGH WATER CAN'T PICK IT BACK UP. THESE ELECTRONIC SUPERCHARGERS SURE ARE SWELL. WE LED 3RD ELEMENT OF HI SQ BUT WE FINALLY FILLED IN RIGHT WING SECOND ELEMENT. SURE HAD A TIME ALTOGETHER, ONE OF THOSE 145 DEALS THINK WE HIT THE TARGET PRETTY FAIR. IT WAS THE SECONDARY TARGET WE HIT AS THE PRIMARY WAS COMPLETELY COVERED BY CLOUDS. QUITE A TOUR WE HAD AS WE FLEW ALL OVER FRANCE. THE FIGHTER COVER WAS REALLY GOOD. CARRIED 12X500 AND 700 GALS. IN THE TOKYOS. WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF EXTRA GAS AS OUR GAS GAUGE WAS OUT. TARGET: ROMILLY sur SEINE, AIRFIELD
21. 13/02/44 LIVOSSART AND BOIS REMBRE, FRANCE, NO BALL--BOY MORE OF THEM FOR ME! THESE ARE THE DICK--WHEN YOU DON'T RUN INTO FLAK. WE FLEW 2ND ELEMENT LEAD OF THE LOW SQ. RIGHT UP TO SNUFF AS WE MISSED THE TARGET. FRANCE SURE WAS PRETTY TODAY. WE FLEW EVER INCREASING CONCENTRIC CIRCLES LOOKING FOR THE TARGET. WE CARRIED 12X500 Lbers, ALTITUDE 12,000FT. FLAK OVER THE COAST GOING OUT. NAVIGATOR OFF THE BALL. NO HOLES , TARGET: NO BALL
22. 20/02/44 POSEN, POLAND, BRIEFED FOR POZAN, POLAND. WHAT A RIDE!! IT SEEMED LIKE WE FLEW FOR HOURS AFTER CROSSING DENMARK AND WE STILL HAD 100 MILES TO GO. HAD OUR OLD HOLE AGAIN, THIRD ELEMENT LEAD IN THE HI SQ WITH THE 100TH "A". WE HAD 10X500 AND FULL TOKYOS. THE FIGHTERS REALLY CAME IN TODAY. WE SAW ABOUT 40 FW 190's BUT ONLY FIVE OF THEM MADE ONE PASS IN TRAIL AND LEFT. THIS ATTACK CAME JUST AT LAND FALL. JUST BEFORE BOMBS AWAY WE WERE ATTACKED BY 7 ME 110's. THEY REALLY CAME IN CLOSE. I'M DAMNED IF THEY COULD HIT US OR WE COULD HIT THEM. WE LOST TWO CREWS TODAY. HARRIS AND SMITH. SMITH WAS REPORTED DOWN IN SWEDEN. THERE WAS A COMPLETE OVERCAST OVER THE CONTINENT SO WE BOMBED BY PATHFINDER. TARGET--YOU'VE GOT ME? ALTITUD 9,000 TO 12,000 FT MOST OF THE TIME EXCEPT AT BOMBS AWAY WE WERE AT 17,000 FT. MAC PICKED UP A HOLE IN THE PLEXIGLASS BESIDE HIS HEAD. HAD SOME FLAK RIGHT OVER THE TARGET. NOT ACCURATE. TARGET: POSEN OR STETTIN, AIRCRAFT ENGINES
23. 21/02/44 BRUNSWICK, GERMANY, USUAL DEAL--WE HIT AN AIRFIELD INSTEAD BY VISUAL BOMBING. THIS WAS TO BE PATHFINDER BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED. WE FLEW THIRD ELEMENT AGAIN--HI SQ OF 100TH "B" THIS SURE WAS A WILD RIDE, PROP WASH ALL THE WAY. FIGHTER COVER WAS REALLY GREAT. BRIEFED FOR 290? FIGHTERS AND I BELIEVE THEM. P-47's, P-51"S AND p-38's ALL OVER THE SKY.NO FLAK. WE CARRIED 10X500 AND 900 GALS IN THE TOKYOS. BOOK SAYS BRUNSWICK AIRCRAFT PARTS AND ALHORN AND VORDEN AIRFIELD
24. 24/02/44 POSEN, POLAND, BRIEFED FOR POSEN AGAIN. THRE WAS A COMPLETE UNDERCAST SO WE TURNED BACK JUST BEFORE THE TARGET AREA AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR BERLIN. DID WE EVER SWEAT THAT OUT FINALLY TURNED NORTH AGAIN AND HIT ROSTOCK BY PFF. WE HAD ABOUT 4 ATTACKS BY FIGHTERS GOING INTO THE TARGET. ME 210's. THE FIGHTERS THEN JUST HUNG AROUND AND NAILED STAGGLERS. WE FLEW #3 GROUP LEAD. CARRIED 10X500 AND FULL TOKYOS. ALTITUDE 11,000 FT EXCEPT OF BOMBS AWAY AT 17,000 FT.
25. 25/02/44 REGENSBURG, GERMANY, HAPPY DAY!! FINIS--REGENSBURG TODAY AND WHAT A DAY. WE HAD FLAK SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY IN BUT IT WASN'T VERY ACCURATE. VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE GROUP--NONE TO US. FOUR FW 190's ATTACKED AND KNOCKED OUT ONE SHIP. THERE WAS A 47 RIGHT ON THEIR TAIL AND HE CAME RIGHT ON IN. FIGHTERS AFTER THAT JUST HUNG AROUND TO HIT STRAGGLERS. GERMANY WAS BEAUTIFUL TODAY. IT WAS CLEAR ALL THE WAY OVER. THE ALPS LOOK JUST LIKE THE SIERRAS AND WERE THEY EVER PRETTY. WE REALLY PLASTERED THE TARGET. THE 15TH HAD HIT IT ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE WE DID AND WE COULD SEE SMOKE FOR 100 MILES. THE FLAK WAS AS BAD AS ANY I HAVE EVER SEEN. DEADLY ACCURATE. TRACKED RIGHT AROUND OUR TURN WHEN BREAKING AWAY FROM THE BOMB RUN. WE LOST ONE CREW McCLAIN 2ND ELEMENT No 3 LEAD ELEMENT OF THE HI SQ. WE CARRIED 10X500 AND FULL TOKYOS. THAT'S THAT. TARGET: AEOR ENGINES.
28/02/44 MARQUENVILLE, FRANCE (NO BALL) REST OF CREW FINISHED THEIR MISSIONS TODAY. CAPT LAKIN (ORIGINAL PILOT) FOR THIS CREW) WAS PILOT.
Thomas A. Kendall 350th Squadron July 13, 2018
Thomas was Tail Gunner on the William Lakin/Keith Sprague crew. When First Pilot Lakin was promoted, Sprague took over as Pilot for the remainder of the crew’s 25 missions. The crew arrived at the 100th in Sept 1943 and completed their tour on Feb 28, 1944, a “No Ball” mission to Marquenville. On October 14, 1943 the target was SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY, “LONG HARD FLIGHT, LOTS OF OPPOSITION. FW 190's, Me 109's, Ju88's. FLAK WAS HEAVY AND CLOSE OVER THE TARGET SEVERAL HITS ON THE PLANE. BUD BUTTS SHOT ONE DOWN FROM THE BALL TURRET AND TOM KENDALL GOT ONE FROM THE TAIL GUNNERS POSITION. TARGET: BALL BEARINGS. One of only eight 100th BG Crews to fly this mission.
MEMO 2:
Obituary for Rev. Thomas A. Kendall
Delmar- Rev. Thomas A Kendall, very nearly 95, passed from this world into eternal salvation on July 13, 2018.
“ My soul finds rest in God alone: My salvation comes from Him.”
- Psalms 62:1
Born in Syracuse, NY on Aug 13, 1923 to Margaret and John Kendall, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in January 1942 and served as a B-17 tail gunner in the 100th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, completing 26 combat missions on February 28, 1944 and earning a ticket home. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Air Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation and the Distinguished Flying Cross presented to him by Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle personally. He talked freely about his experiences (although very modest and self-effacing about his own service) and really enjoyed going to see any restored B-17 that came around.
Upon his return stateside, he met and married Pauline Herscha and they enjoyed 67 years together. Pauline went to be with the Lord in 2011 and we are sure she was waiting for Tom with open arms. After the war Tom was a firefighter for the City of Syracuse for 13 years, but after being badly injured in the collision of two fire apparatus and answering a call from the Lord, he declined a promotion and left the Dept. to enter the Seminary in 1959 (he served as Chaplain for Syracuse Fire Dept. years later while he was ministering at the City Mission).
Upon his graduation he was ordained in the Unionville Reformed Church in 1966 and served there for 3 years, not knowing that after serving in several other churches, God would return him to Unionville in 1991 and he would serve there another 27 years, finally retiring March 31, 2018, after serving God for 52 years. He was a spiritual guide and teacher to many people over the years, always ready with encouragement and uplifting words. He lived as he believed; in the power of prayer and an unshakable faith in God. We are grateful for the time God has allowed us to have him and know him. He was loved deeply and dearly by more than just his family and they grieve with us.
In addition to his wife Pauline (“Cutie” to her grandchildren) he was pre-deceased by his brother Dick, his son John and grandson Jonathan. He is survived by daughters Kelly Kendall, Joyce (Walter) Crawford, Jeanne (Vincent) Carrington, in-laws Frank Esposito of Camillus, August and Phyllis Herscha of Rochester, Tom and Pat Herscha of Florida, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many, many loving friends.
Psalms 118:14
“The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.”
Funeral Services will be Friday July 20, 2018 at 12 noon at the Unionville Reformed Church 1134 Delaware Turnpike in Delmar. Visitation will be from 11AM-12PM prior to the service at the church.
Interment will be in Viewland Cemetery in Rotterdam.
Contributions can be made in his memory to the Unionville Reformed Church 1134 Delaware Turnpike Delmar, NY 12054.
