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Personnel

S/Sgt

Fair Columbus LAWRENCE

Hometown During Time of Service: Atlanta, GA
Army Serial Number: 34502082
Enlistment Date: December 29, 1942
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 351st Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Tail Gunner
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown

Additional 100th Service Notes

Status: POW
MACR: 03023
CR: 03023
Comments: 6 MAR 44 BERLIN (EAC /ME-109..EXP)

Biography

Born November 2, 1908
Birthplace: Cherokee County, North Carolina
Died postwar on April 19, 1977
Fair died at the age of 69 years old. He is buried in Fain Cemetery in Calhoun, Georgia.

Media Articles

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Media ItemTypePageVolume/IssueBroadcast SourceTimeDescriptionFile
Fair Lawrence liberatedPrintThe Atlanta Constitution May 19 194512:00 am

Additional Military Documents

Comments and Notes

Memo 1:
CREW

1st Lt Edward Handorf P KIA 6/3/44 Berlin
2nd Lt Frederick G.Spence CP KIA "
2nd Lt John W.Dewey N KIA "
2nd Lt Norman L.Rasmussen B KIA "
T/Sgt Henry C.Verdeur R KIA "
T/Sgt Charles H.Ford E KIA "
S/Sgt Allen D.Horton BT KIA "
S/Sgt John L.Willsey RW POW "
S/Sgt John J.Gverovich LW KIA "
S/Sgt Fair C.Lawrence TG POW " (fractured thigh)

35tst Sqdn. Crew,as above,is taken from the MACR.

On 8/1/44 Lt.Spence,Lt.Rasmussen and Sgts Horton,Willsey,and Gverovich joined the 100th Also in Jan.1944, Lt.Handorf,Lt.Dewey & Sgts
Verdeur & Ford were assigned to the 351st. On 6/3/44,this crew was flying as Deputy Group
lead and assumed the lead position when the leader was shot down. The formation was enroute
home when a ME 109 came in at 1 o'clock low and sprayed front of A/C with 20mm. Wing tanks
began to burn and Willsey Says he "pulled the emergency bomb bay door release,snapped on my
chute,and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. He and the co pilot were getting ready to bail
out. I stepped through the open bomb bay doors and,while still in the prop wash,the air
craft blew up blowing the TG clear. I delayed opening my chute until going through the last
layer of clouds about 10,000 feet. The TG & I landed about 60 yards apart. Lawrence had his
leg broken and told me to try to escape and leave him alone. About 3 hours later I was
captured by some German civi1ians with shot guns."

Willsey states that this was his ninth mission.
Memo 2:
POW/KIA notes: Broke leg during bailout.

KIA / MIA / EVA / INT Information:

Target:
Berlin
Aircraft:
"Kind A Ruff" (42-38011)
Date:
1944-03-06
Cause:
ME-109-Explosion

Crew List

1st Crew List

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Rank Name Pos Status
Lt HANDORF, Edward P KIA
Lt SPENCE, Frederick CP KIA
Lt DEWEY, John W. NAV KIA
Lt RASMUSSEN, Norman L. BOM KIA
T/SGT FORD, Charles H. TTE KIA
T/Sgt VERDEUR, Henry C. ROG KIA
S/SGT HORTON, Allen D. BTG KIA
S/SGT GVEROVICH, John J. WG KIA
S/SGT WILLSEY, John L. WG POW
S/Sgt LAWRENCE, Fair TG POW