COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
1ST LT ANTHONY J. GALLAGHER P KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
2ND LT GORDON K. BOWEN CP KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
2ND LT WILLIAM F. EDMONDSON NAV KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
2ND LT GUSTAV A. VERDAL BOM CPT 12 DEC 44 DARMSTADT (WIA ON AUG 4, 1944-HAMBURG)
T/SGT ALBERT S. PRINCE ROG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
T/SGT JOSEPH A. LUCAS TTE KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT WALTER WITTENDORF BTG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT JOHN A. ZAHER WG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT JACK GOBIN WG CPT 16 NOV 44 AACHEN
S/SGT HERMAN F. HERHAMER TG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
349th Sqdn.. LT GALLAGHER Crew as assigned in June 1944 except for Lt Edmondson. It is known that Lt Edmondson was from the crew of C.S.Harding, Jr. He was assigned to Gallagher permanently from Harding's crew because the original navigator, Lt. Lyle Langenburg, had been pulled from the crew when they arrived in England and was sent for pathfinder training. S/SGT J. GOBIN and S/SGT ZAHER were switching off missions flying as waist gunner as crews were reduced to 9 men. S/Sgt Gobin was put in the spare gunners pool after the Gallagher Crew was shot down.
Crew on 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG MACR #7878, Microfiche #2888 A/C #42 - 37572
1ST LT ANTHONY J. GALLAGHER P KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
2ND LT GORDON K. BOWEN CP KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
2ND LT WILLIAM F. EDMONDSON NAV KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
SGT RALPH O. INGALLS TOG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
T/SGT ALBERT S. PRINCE ROG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
T/SGT JOSEPH A. LUCAS TTE KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT WALTER WITTENDORF BTG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT JOHN A. ZAHER WG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
S/SGT HERMAN F. HERHAMER TG KIA 5 AUG 44 MAGDEBURG, TANK, AC
EYEWITNESS: "A/C #572 as seen to be hit by flak as bombs were released. The A/C disintegrated and no chutes were seen.
Later reports suggest it may have been bombs from another B-17 that destroyed A/C #42-37572; there is no confirmation of this and the fate of the A/C will proably never be positively determined.
MISSIONS FOR LT GALLAGHER CREW:
Date Crew Nbr Mission Nbr Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target
6/19/1944 16 -142 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/19/1944 16 -142 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/20/1944 16 -143 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/20/1944 16 -143 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 FALLERSLEBEN
6/21/1944 16 -144 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/21/1944 16 -144 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 102934 BASDORF & RUHLAND
6/29/1944 16 150 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
6/29/1944 16 150 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 102934 BOHLEN (OIL REF)
7/4/1944 16 152 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 BUCHANAN R.J. S/SGT TG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 GREEN B.R. S/SGT TOG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/4/1944 16 152 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37972 GEIN (RECALLED)
7/6/1944 16 154 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 PONTZIOUS J.A. S/SGT TG 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/6/1944 16 154 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 31723 FLEURY/CREPEUIL
7/7/1944 16 155 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 PONTZIOUS J.A. S/SGT TG 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/7/1944 16 155 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG
7/8/1944 16 156 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/8/1944 16 156 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 97834 CLAMECY-JOLGYN
7/11/1944 16 157 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/11/1944 16 157 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37972 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/12/1944 16 158 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/12/1944 16 158 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 MUNICH (IND. AREA)
7/13/1944 16 159 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/13/1944 16 159 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 MUNICH (JET ENGINES)
7/14/1944 16 160 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/14/1944 16 160 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 SOUTH OF FRANCE
7/19/1944 16 163 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/19/1944 16 163 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
7/20/1944 16 164 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 39867 MERSEBURG
7/20/1944 16 164 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 39867 MERSEBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 REGENSBURG
7/21/1944 16 165 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 REGENSBURG
7/24/1944 16 166 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 GOBIN J. SGT LWG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/24/1944 16 166 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 ZAHER J. SGT RWG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 16 167 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
8/3/1944 16 172 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 GOBIN J. S/SGT RWG 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/3/1944 16 172 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/4/1944 16 173 VERDAL G.A. LT BOM 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 GOBIN J. S/SGT RWG 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
8/4/1944 16 173 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 HAMBURG (OIL)
LT VERDAL IS INJURED ON HAMBURG MISSION AND IS REPLACED BY SGT INGALLS FOR MAGDEBURG MISSION AND IS KIA
8/5/1944 16 174 LUCAS J.A. T/SGT TTE 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 WITTENDORF W. S/SGT BTG 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 ZAHER J.A. S/SGT RWG 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 INGALLS R.O. SGT TOG 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 EDMONDSON W.P. LT NAV 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 BOWEN G.K. LT CP 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 GALLAGHER A.J. LT P 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 HERHAMER H.F. S/SGT TG 37572 MAGDEBURG
8/5/1944 16 174 PRINCE A.S. T/SGT ROG 37572 MAGDEBURG
As far as the navigator Lt. Edmondson, I understand he was assigned to Gallagher permanently from Harding's crew because the original navigator, Lt. Lyle Langenburg, had been pulled from the crew when they arrived in England and was sent for pathfinder training. I believe Edmondson was originally a bombardier but hated it and wanted to be a navigator. (???)
The toggalier Sgt. Ralph O. Ingalls, had been assigned to the crew because the regular bombardier, Lt. Gustav Verdal, had been wounded on the previous days mission to Hamburg and was in the hospital. He finished his tour, returned to the states and lived in Idaho until his death a few years ago. Waist gunner Jack Gobin was not flying that day because with the nine man policy John Zaher was flying. Gobin finished his tour, returned to the states, lives in Florida and is a member of the foundation.
I researched the rumor that the plane had been hit by bombs from the plane above it but neither the waist gunner on "Billy Boy" (Chuck Winters who was looking directly at the plane when it blew up) nor the tail gunner on the lead plane of the element (and I don't have his name handy) believed Gallagher was hit by bombs. Only the ball turret gunner of the plane above (and I don't have his name handy either…it's in my files) said the bombs may have hit it. Every other source seemed to think a 1 in a million direct hit by flak in the bomb bay caused the plane to explode. Naturally I prefer that explanation.
Herhamer's body was found, Ingalls I understand lived a few hours and Edmondson supposedly lived for several days according to family. Herhamer and Edmondson were returned to the states for reburial after the war and Ingalls is buried in France.
Ron Lucas
son of T/Sgt. Joseph A. Lucas
the_quiet_heroes@hotmail.com
MEMO 2: