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. 10/10/43 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 OPPOSTION. 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
POSTION. 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: INDUSTIAL 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 FUEWL 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 THEI 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 FO THE HISTORY OF THIS SHIP BUT APPAREENTLY 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 4-20
MILES. 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.
AFTER THIS MISSION LT CAPT LAKIN BECAME A LEAD PILOT AND KEITH SPRAGUE TOOK OVER THE CREW AS PILOT.
28/02/44 MARQUENVILLE, FRANCE (NO BALL) REST OF CREW FINISHED THEIR MISSIONS TODAY. CAPT LAKIN (ORIGINAL PILOT)
FOR THIS CREW) WAS PILOT.
CREW(28 Apr 44)
COL ROBERT H. KELLY COM KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
CAPT WILLIAM G. LAKIN P KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
LT HERBERT ALF CP POW 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL) flew as formation officer in tail
CAPT JOSEPH H. "BUBBLES" PAYNE JR. NAV KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
LT MAURICE H. CAIN BOM POW 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
T/SGT LEO R. CANNON ROG POW 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL
T/SGT JAMES C. BROWN TTE KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
S/SGT ALBERTM. FREITAS BTG POW 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
S/SGT JOHN N. SPIKER WG KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL)
S/SGT JOSEPH A. RICHARD WG POW 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL
S/.SGT DELBERT E. BARNHART TG KIA 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NO BALL) flew in radio room, manned 50 cal.
350th BS
COL KELLY COMMANDED THE 100TH FOR ONE WEEK AND TWO DAYS. HE WAS LOST ON HIS FIRST MISSION TO SOTTEVAST. AT TAKE-OFF TIME THE NEW COMMANDER ELECTED TO BUMP THE 100TH'S BEST FLIGHT LEADER (CAPT JACK SWARTOUT) AND LEAD HIMSELF. THE RESULTS WERE A DISASTER, TWO SHIPS WERE LOST WHEN THE COL ELECTED TO MAKE A SECOND RUN OVER THE TARGET AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AND ON THE SAME HEADING. AMOUNG THE KIA'S WAS THE 100TH BELOVED LEAD NAVIGATOR JOSEPH "BUBBLES" PAYNE; SAID BY JIM BROWN AND HARRY CROSBY TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST.
This was what can best be called a "pick-up" crew of veteran airmen, with the exception of Col. Kelly fresh from the States
and had became the 100th's Commanding Officer only nine days prior to the mission. Joe "Bubbles" Payne was
a member of the original air echelon of the Group as were T/Sgt James C. Brown and S/Sgt Albert M. Freitas.
With the exception of Magee Fuller, they were the last of the "Original 100th" to become casualties. T/Sgt Leo R. Cannon joined the Group in August 1943, his orginal crew (F.H. Meadows) was shot down at Bremen 08 Oct 1943. Capt William G. Lakin had been with the Group prior to October 1943. Lt Maurice H. Cain was from Lt John P. Gibbons Crew.
The following from MACRs: "....On 02 May 1944, at 0730 hours an American Airman was captured by two German soldiers on the street of Rochville, Sottevast, France. The Germans record the following data: Name: Cain, Maurice # 0-681859. According to his statement he rescued himself from the burning aircraft on 28 April 1944. Sent to Airbase Command, Paris, France..Date 3 May 1944 @ 1320 hours." The Originating German Officer is not identified..pw
EMAIL = cannon@rabun.net
UNAME = Michael A. Cannon
CONNECTION = I am a relative of a 100th veteran
TAPS_PERSON = Leo R. Cannon
TAPS_DATE = October 24, 1997
TAPS_UNIT = 350th
TAPS_POSITION = Radio Operator
TAPS_RELATION = Child
QUESTION = Question:
FEEDBACK = Feedback:Leo R. Cannon joined his second crew after his 1st was shot down. He was in the hospital with the flue when his 1st crew was shot down.
Mr. Faley
Yes, I do have a copy of my Dad's first crew. He was assigned to this crew when they were first organized in the states. I know that he told me that his second crew was a pick up crew, but I do not know if he had flown with them since his first crew was shot down. His first crew was shot down on their 8th mission. My Dad was shot down on his 14th mission. Therefore he flew 7 mission after his first crew was shot down. I will send individual pictures of the first crew later. A fact that you may not know. Delbert Barnhart was not the Tail Gunner on the last crew. He was an extra crew member. He was in the Radio Room with my Dad using the gun in that compartment. When the plane was first hit, they both were not hit. They were attempting to get out when the plane was hit a second time. At this time my father was hit. He fell on the floor & Barnhart fell on top of him. When he awoke some time later Barnhart was gone and so was the rest of the plane about six feet from his head. He some how got out of the plane, pulled his rip cord, made one oscillation & hit the ground. And was later captured by two German officers. Thanks Mike Cannon
MEMO 2:
PHOTOS:
 |
William G. Lakin's 350th Crew photographed at Grand Island, Nebraska. Standing from left: Daniel F. Feagins - WG, James W. Cunningham - TTE, Thomas A. Kendall - TG, Eugene A. Beister, Clarance A. Butts and Alfred J. Michini - WG: Kneeling from left: Robert G. Milam - NAV, Keith A. Sprague - CP, William G. Lakin - Pilot, Duncan L. McCormac - BOM. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
 |
William G. Lakin's 350th Crew. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives)
Fred Michini I'm guessing this must have been after the last mission of most of the William G. Lakin crew, February 28th, 1944. My father Alfred (Fred) Michini is in the center still in his flight suit. They completed 25 missions from September 23rd, 1943 - February 28th 1944. |
 |
Part of the William G. Lakin Crew at Thorpe Abbotts. (Detailed Information 100th Photo Archives) |
 |
Eugene E. Beister, left, and Duncan L. McCormac from the William G. Lakin Crew. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
 |
100th Officers at Thorpe Abbotts. This is two crews of Officers from 350th. Believe one of them are the officers of William Lakin (100th Photo Archives) |
 |
At top is Albert Freitas and laying down is John N. Spiker who was KIA. Freitas - Detailed Information Spiker - Detailed Information Photo taken near the village of Pullem St. Mary's on the parents farm of a "Daphnie," (last name unknown) a friend of one of the "Yanks." Photos courtesy of Albert Freitas |
 |
At top of picture is "Daphnie's" Mom, in the middle are "Daphnie", John N. Spiker, Grandmother and Knute Knudson. In front is Albert Freitas. Knute Knudson was Daphnie's boy friend. Picture taken 20 May 1943. Photos courtesy of Albert Freitas |
 |
John N. Spiker of the William G. Larkin crew, Knute Knudson of the Herbert G. Devore crew, a laborer and Albert M. Freitas of the Bernard A. DeMarco crew. Photo taken at the Daphnie's Farm Photos courtesy of Albert Freitas |
 |
Photo ID for Feb 28th Final Mission of Crew. |
 |
Fred Michini My Father Alfred (Fred) Michini WG is on the left with Clarance A. Butts BTG in Capt. William G. Lakin And Lt Keith Spragues 350th crew.
|
SERVED IN:
- LAKIN, William G. - P
- SPRAGUE, Keith A. - CP/P
- MILAM, Robert G. - NAV
- MCCORMAC, Duncan L. - BOM
- CUNNINGHAM, James W. - TTE
- BEISTER, Eugene E. - ROG
- BUTTS, Clarence A. - BTG
- FEAGINS, Daniel F. - WG
- MICHINI, Alfred J. - WG
- KENDALL, Thomas A. - TG
- LAKIN, William G. - P
- PAYNE, Joseph H. - NAV
- CAIN, Maurice H. - BOM
- BROWN, James C. - TTE
- CANNON, Leo R. - ROG
- KELLY, Robert H. - COM
- FREITAS, Albert M. - BTG
- RICHARD, Joseph A. - WG
- SPIKER, John N. - WG
- BARNHART, Delbert E. - TG
