Personnel

CREW



2ND LT WILLIAM E. HOWARD P POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN sn# 0-775364

2ND LT GENARO DELGADO   CP POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

2ND LT DOUGLAS R. JONES   NAV POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

    CPL MICHAEL MATY   ROG KIA 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

    CPL EDWARD E. HALL   TTE POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

    CPL EDWARD T. TRUITT   BTG NOC

    CPL SAMUEL C. LUNSFORD, JR.  TOG POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

    CPL RUSSELL E. BOLDING  WG POW 7 APR 45 BUCHEN

    CPL GEORGE F. THOMAS   TG KIA 7 APR 45 BUCHEN



349th Sqdn.  Crew, as above, joined the 100th Goup on 30 Dec 44.

On the 7 Apr 45 Buchen mission, S/Sgt Louis A. Lehrmann from the the C.R. Sanford crew flew in place of Edward Truitt and  was KIA.



EYEWITNESS:  "A/C -# 44-8334 XR-M was attacked by an ME 109.  The #3 engine caught fire and the pilot peeled out of formation to the left and feathered #3 engine.  The fire appeared to go out in the engine but the wheel well was blazing. The bombs were salvoed, the aircraft completed a 180 fegree turn and headed back alone. It was last seen diving into a cloud bank.  There were 40 to 50 enemy fighters in the area."



For most of the crew it was the 21st to 24 th missions,  many of the surviving crewmembers feel Michael Maty, Louis A. Lehrmann and George F. Thomas were murdered by German civilians when they landed.. Lt Howard was captured within 15 minutes of landing.  He ended up in Stalag Luft 1.



  MISSIONS OF 1st LT WILLIAM E. HOWARD (mpf 2002)



1. 20/01/45 BREISAK

2. 21/01/45 MANNHEIM

3. 29/01/45 KASSEL

4. 31/01/45 BREMEN

5. 03/03/45 BERLIN

6. 14/02/45 CHEMNITZ

7. 15/02/45 COTTBUS

8. 19/02/45 MUNSTER

9. 20/02/45 NURNBURG

10. 21/02/45 NURNBURG

11. 25/02/45 MUNICH

12. 26/02/45 BERLIN

13. 03/03/45 BRUNSWICK

14. 04/03/45 ULM

15. 08/03/45 FRANKFURT

16. 12/03/45 SWINEMUNDE

17. 14/03/45 HANOVER

18. 15/03/45 ORANIENBURG

19. 18/03/45 BERLIN

20. 19/03/45 FULDA/JENA

21. 21/03/45 RUHLAND/PLAUEN

22. 24/03/45 ZIEGENHAIN

23. 05/04/45 NURNBURG

24. 06/04/45 LEIPZIG

25 07/04/45 BUCHEN-SHOT DOWN

Crew were on their 21st to 24th Mission



Samuel Crawley Lunsford Jr.

APRIL 20, 1925 – APRIL 17, 2017





Obituary

Samuel LUNSFORD

1925 - 2017

LUNSFORD, Jr., Samuel C. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Samuel C. Lunsford, Jr, age 92. He was an Atlanta native residing in Fayette County, Georgia and recently Kennesaw Georgia. He was a World War ll veteran, as a crew member on a B-17 and a German POW. Sam had a deep love of God, family and friends. He had interests in automobiles, especially classic cars, NASCAR and timepieces. The love for his home of 44 years in Fayette county nurtured his gift of gardening and enjoying nature. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, June Ellis Lunsford. His son, Samuel C. Lunsford lll, with wife, Debra. Grandchildren, Harrison (Wendy), Benjamin (Beth), Matthew and Alison. Two step-grandsons, Matt (Caroline) and Stephen (Bess), along with five great grandchildren. Sister-in-law, Janet Lunsford and many nieces and nephews. There will be a private family gathering at the homeplace to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers ,donations can be made to his favorite charity, Friends of Fayette County Library.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Apr. 27, 2017