Video: John “Lucky” Luckadoo reads from Kevin Maurer’s Damn Lucky (link below)!

Crew

Lt Henry Jespersen Crew

Henry N. Jespersen crew (left to right) Standing: Frank Gronkowsky, Radio Operator; George Kostoulakos, Engineer Robert Atkins, CoPilot; Neil Jesperson, Pilot; Burton Seely, Navigator Kneeling: Frank Fischer, Ball Turret Gunner; John Durrenberger, Tail Gunner John Legg, Armorer and Waist Gunner; Thomas Kiriako, Waist Gunner The crew photo does not include Joe Savino. It is assumed he was the photographer that day.

Crew List

1st Crew List

Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.

RankNamePosStatus
Lt JESPERSEN, Henry Neil P POW
Lt ATKINS, Robert F. CP POW
Lt SEELY, Burton W. NAV KIA
Lt SAVINO, Joseph BOM POW
S/SGT KOSTOULAKOS, George J. TTE POW
T/Sgt GRONKOWSKI, Frank ROG KIA
S/SGT FISCHER, Frank BTG KIA
S/Sgt KIRIAKO, Thomas T. WG KIA
S/Sgt LEGG, John E. WG POW
S/Sgt DURRENBERGER, John J. TG KIA

Photos

Jespersen Crew

The enclosed photo is of the Neil Jesperson crew that went down on either their 18th or 19th mission, depending on who you talk to. We were in the 349th Squadron and were shot down by fighters on one the several disastrous missions that our group had during the war. Our particular day of bad luck was on May 24th, 1944. This was a Berlin mission and I believe this was the day of no return for nine 100th planes. The following will identify those in the photo. From left to right, standing in the rear is: Frank Gronkowsky, Radio Operator; George Kostoulakos, Engineer; Robert Atkins, CoPilot; Neil Jesperson, Pilot; Burton Seely, Navigator. From left to right in front: Frank Fischer, Ball Turret Gunner; John Durrenberger, Tail Gunner; John Legg, Armorer and Waist Gunner; Thomas Kiriako, Waist Gunner. Inset is the Bombardier, Joseph Savino. Joe probably took the original picture and later someone added what looks like a school photo of Joe. (100th Photo Archives)

MACR: 05169