The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 379 Bomb Group, 526 Bomb Squadron. The aircraft was coded LF-N and was named “Lassie-Come-Home”. T/O Kimbolton. OP: Primary target Poznan. Diverted to Stettin due to overcast. 1st Lt Robert M Dunn Jar. was flying as High Squadron leader southwest of Stettin when “Lassie-Come Home” at 15:30 hours was attacked by German fighters and a fire broke out in the left wing. Dunn left the formation and ordered the crew to bail out. Tail gunner S/Sgt James T. Miller left through the tail hatch while Waist gunner S/Sgt Edwin G. Ayres and Ball turret gunner S/Sgt John Fode left through the rear door. Bombardier 2nd Lt Harry D. Jensen, Navigator 2nd Lt George Krassner, Co-pilot 2nd Lt William H. Churchill Jar., Engineer T/Sgt John T. Whitelaw, Radio operator T/Sgt Evar W. Anderson and Pilot 1st Lt Robert M Dunn Jar. left through the bomb bay. They all landed safely near Gingst on Rügen at approximately 15:35 and were captured by the Germans and taken to Fliegerhorst Bug-Rügen except Dunn who was taken to Fliegerhorst Papow. On 14/5 they were all shipped off to Dulag Luft in Oberursel. “Lassie-Come-Home” continued north until over the Danish island of Sjælland where it circled for about an hour before it crashed in Bjælkerup town where it destroyed a small house to end up hitting one corner of Store Heddinge Hospital. Luckily no one was hurt. My Dad had to jump with no time to grab his flight jacket. He was captured by the Germans and was a POW for a little over a year until being freed by our allies. There is a museum now where the plane crashed and I was told inside the museum there is a flight jacket on display. There is no doubt in my mind that the jacket is my Fathers. Thanks Dad, Love and miss you ♥
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:59:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015