Gunner T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan INT: Returned to Duty
Hometown:
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT RTD
Target: POLITZ Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06156
Date Lost: 20-Jun-44
Serial Number: #42-51125
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F-PIus"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 7th Mission
Location: Sweden
Cause: anti- aircraft fire Crew of 10 2KIA 8INT RTD
For its two missions on this date, the 392nd Bomb Group put up a total of 49 planes. According to 392nd Bomb Group historian Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., this "maximum effort" was "a tribute to all ground maintenance, armament, ordnance and communications personnel of the Group's supporting organizations.
Again this rough target would be remembered, not only for the Group's heavy losses suffered from the raid of May 29th but from the many casualties it would also absorb again on this day. The target once more was the synthetic oil refinery and between 0100 and 0200 hours, (33) aircrews were briefed. Lieutenant Crowell of the 579th was one of the two primary Bombardiers while Lieutenant Robinson of the 576th was the other. Two PFF lead ships were employed on this mission
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member eye-witness (Flight Officer Pierce) account stated that the Page ship was hit by anti- aircraft fire while in the target area; that it peeled off from the formation and headed towards Sweden, seemingly under control with no parachutes observed at that time. No other information was recorded in this MACR for that event after the crew dropped their bombs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Pilot, Lt. Page, rendered a brief account much later after his repatriation to U.S. control about the emergency situations regarding his crew, and death of (2) crew members. The plane had been badly damaged by flak to the extent that just over Sweden where landing was contemplated, the bail out order had to be given. This order was given early while the ship was under some control and at a reasonably safe altitude in order to permit a safe, controlled bail out of crew men. He stated that some (18) minutes elapsed from time of the bail out order until he was forced to abandon the ship which then was going out of control and into a spin. All crew members had had time to exit the aircraft at this moment, and his own escape was narrowly made due to excessive centrifugal forces as he was virtually thrown from the plane when it went inverted into a spin. Page learned later that two of his men had perished in this emergency, as described to him by Swedish officials of a ground party, but could not elaborate further. He also related in his written statement given some two years later that he had given a full report on this incident to the Office of the (U.S.) Military Attache in Stockholm right after the event. The crew Navigator, Lt. Bishop, added to the above account in stating that crew bail outs were made over Swedish territory at around 1220 hours; that all were out in about five minutes of time; and the two members who eventually perished, Sgts. Kellerman and Deck, were in the waist section of the plane, uninjured, but both were very nervous (about jumping). Swedish authorities searching the plane crash site told the crew survivors later that Sgt. Deck's body was found in the wreckage with parachute unopened and Kellerman's was found about 60 yards away with his chute partially depoloyed. It appeared the latter may have bailed out at the last moment, but was too low for his chute to have opened fully to break his fall. The same survivor account surmised that he believed that the Tail Gunner had been too frightened to bail out, and waited too long to attempt it, or that centrifugal forces may have prevented egress at that very late moment. The surviving men were interned by Swedish authorities at Rostanga initially. (Note: This emergency into Sweden territory was the second event for Lt. Page, the Pilot. On 4 Jan 44, the Keil mission, Pilot Page had diverted his plane and full crew into Smedstorp Air Base safely where they were interned for a period with all (10) members being returned to U.S. Military control soon after. All crew men were new members that had been assigned to Lt. Page in this second emergency. Refer to MACR #1910 for this earlier mission).
The #42-51125 crew
1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Leroy F. Qualey Co Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Charles R. Bishop Navigator INT
2nd/Lt. David J. Hotle Bombardier INT
T/Sgt. Robert B. Kellerman Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Robert L. Moore Radio Op. INT
T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Edward G. Kowalchik Gunner INT
S/Sgt. James F. Rehill Jr. Gunner INT
S/Sgt. Sgt Glenn A. Deck Gunner KIA
Military Information: T SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Hometown:
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT RTD
Target: POLITZ Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06156
Date Lost: 20-Jun-44
Serial Number: #42-51125
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F-PIus"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 7th Mission
Location: Sweden
Cause: anti- aircraft fire Crew of 10 2KIA 8INT RTD
For its two missions on this date, the 392nd Bomb Group put up a total of 49 planes. According to 392nd Bomb Group historian Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., this "maximum effort" was "a tribute to all ground maintenance, armament, ordnance and communications personnel of the Group's supporting organizations.
Again this rough target would be remembered, not only for the Group's heavy losses suffered from the raid of May 29th but from the many casualties it would also absorb again on this day. The target once more was the synthetic oil refinery and between 0100 and 0200 hours, (33) aircrews were briefed. Lieutenant Crowell of the 579th was one of the two primary Bombardiers while Lieutenant Robinson of the 576th was the other. Two PFF lead ships were employed on this mission
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member eye-witness (Flight Officer Pierce) account stated that the Page ship was hit by anti- aircraft fire while in the target area; that it peeled off from the formation and headed towards Sweden, seemingly under control with no parachutes observed at that time. No other information was recorded in this MACR for that event after the crew dropped their bombs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Pilot, Lt. Page, rendered a brief account much later after his repatriation to U.S. control about the emergency situations regarding his crew, and death of (2) crew members. The plane had been badly damaged by flak to the extent that just over Sweden where landing was contemplated, the bail out order had to be given. This order was given early while the ship was under some control and at a reasonably safe altitude in order to permit a safe, controlled bail out of crew men. He stated that some (18) minutes elapsed from time of the bail out order until he was forced to abandon the ship which then was going out of control and into a spin. All crew members had had time to exit the aircraft at this moment, and his own escape was narrowly made due to excessive centrifugal forces as he was virtually thrown from the plane when it went inverted into a spin. Page learned later that two of his men had perished in this emergency, as described to him by Swedish officials of a ground party, but could not elaborate further. He also related in his written statement given some two years later that he had given a full report on this incident to the Office of the (U.S.) Military Attache in Stockholm right after the event. The crew Navigator, Lt. Bishop, added to the above account in stating that crew bail outs were made over Swedish territory at around 1220 hours; that all were out in about five minutes of time; and the two members who eventually perished, Sgts. Kellerman and Deck, were in the waist section of the plane, uninjured, but both were very nervous (about jumping). Swedish authorities searching the plane crash site told the crew survivors later that Sgt. Deck's body was found in the wreckage with parachute unopened and Kellerman's was found about 60 yards away with his chute partially depoloyed. It appeared the latter may have bailed out at the last moment, but was too low for his chute to have opened fully to break his fall. The same survivor account surmised that he believed that the Tail Gunner had been too frightened to bail out, and waited too long to attempt it, or that centrifugal forces may have prevented egress at that very late moment. The surviving men were interned by Swedish authorities at Rostanga initially. (Note: This emergency into Sweden territory was the second event for Lt. Page, the Pilot. On 4 Jan 44, the Keil mission, Pilot Page had diverted his plane and full crew into Smedstorp Air Base safely where they were interned for a period with all (10) members being returned to U.S. Military control soon after. All crew men were new members that had been assigned to Lt. Page in this second emergency. Refer to MACR #1910 for this earlier mission).
The #42-51125 crew
1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Leroy F. Qualey Co Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Charles R. Bishop Navigator INT
2nd/Lt. David J. Hotle Bombardier INT
T/Sgt. Robert B. Kellerman Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Robert L. Moore Radio Op. INT
T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Edward G. Kowalchik Gunner INT
S/Sgt. James F. Rehill Jr. Gunner INT
S/Sgt. Sgt Glenn A. Deck Gunner KIA
Military Information: T SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Gunner T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan INT: Returned to Duty
Hometown:
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT RTD
Target: POLITZ Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06156
Date Lost: 20-Jun-44
Serial Number: #42-51125
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F-PIus"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 7th Mission
Location: Sweden
Cause: anti- aircraft fire Crew of 10 2KIA 8INT RTD
For its two missions on this date, the 392nd Bomb Group put up a total of 49 planes. According to 392nd Bomb Group historian Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., this "maximum effort" was "a tribute to all ground maintenance, armament, ordnance and communications personnel of the Group's supporting organizations.
Again this rough target would be remembered, not only for the Group's heavy losses suffered from the raid of May 29th but from the many casualties it would also absorb again on this day. The target once more was the synthetic oil refinery and between 0100 and 0200 hours, (33) aircrews were briefed. Lieutenant Crowell of the 579th was one of the two primary Bombardiers while Lieutenant Robinson of the 576th was the other. Two PFF lead ships were employed on this mission
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member eye-witness (Flight Officer Pierce) account stated that the Page ship was hit by anti- aircraft fire while in the target area; that it peeled off from the formation and headed towards Sweden, seemingly under control with no parachutes observed at that time. No other information was recorded in this MACR for that event after the crew dropped their bombs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Pilot, Lt. Page, rendered a brief account much later after his repatriation to U.S. control about the emergency situations regarding his crew, and death of (2) crew members. The plane had been badly damaged by flak to the extent that just over Sweden where landing was contemplated, the bail out order had to be given. This order was given early while the ship was under some control and at a reasonably safe altitude in order to permit a safe, controlled bail out of crew men. He stated that some (18) minutes elapsed from time of the bail out order until he was forced to abandon the ship which then was going out of control and into a spin. All crew members had had time to exit the aircraft at this moment, and his own escape was narrowly made due to excessive centrifugal forces as he was virtually thrown from the plane when it went inverted into a spin. Page learned later that two of his men had perished in this emergency, as described to him by Swedish officials of a ground party, but could not elaborate further. He also related in his written statement given some two years later that he had given a full report on this incident to the Office of the (U.S.) Military Attache in Stockholm right after the event. The crew Navigator, Lt. Bishop, added to the above account in stating that crew bail outs were made over Swedish territory at around 1220 hours; that all were out in about five minutes of time; and the two members who eventually perished, Sgts. Kellerman and Deck, were in the waist section of the plane, uninjured, but both were very nervous (about jumping). Swedish authorities searching the plane crash site told the crew survivors later that Sgt. Deck's body was found in the wreckage with parachute unopened and Kellerman's was found about 60 yards away with his chute partially depoloyed. It appeared the latter may have bailed out at the last moment, but was too low for his chute to have opened fully to break his fall. The same survivor account surmised that he believed that the Tail Gunner had been too frightened to bail out, and waited too long to attempt it, or that centrifugal forces may have prevented egress at that very late moment. The surviving men were interned by Swedish authorities at Rostanga initially. (Note: This emergency into Sweden territory was the second event for Lt. Page, the Pilot. On 4 Jan 44, the Keil mission, Pilot Page had diverted his plane and full crew into Smedstorp Air Base safely where they were interned for a period with all (10) members being returned to U.S. Military control soon after. All crew men were new members that had been assigned to Lt. Page in this second emergency. Refer to MACR #1910 for this earlier mission).
The #42-51125 crew
1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Leroy F. Qualey Co Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Charles R. Bishop Navigator INT
2nd/Lt. David J. Hotle Bombardier INT
T/Sgt. Robert B. Kellerman Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Robert L. Moore Radio Op. INT
T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Edward G. Kowalchik Gunner INT
S/Sgt. James F. Rehill Jr. Gunner INT
S/Sgt. Sgt Glenn A. Deck Gunner KIA
Military Information: T SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Hometown:
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT RTD
Target: POLITZ Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #06156
Date Lost: 20-Jun-44
Serial Number: #42-51125
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F-PIus"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 7th Mission
Location: Sweden
Cause: anti- aircraft fire Crew of 10 2KIA 8INT RTD
For its two missions on this date, the 392nd Bomb Group put up a total of 49 planes. According to 392nd Bomb Group historian Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., this "maximum effort" was "a tribute to all ground maintenance, armament, ordnance and communications personnel of the Group's supporting organizations.
Again this rough target would be remembered, not only for the Group's heavy losses suffered from the raid of May 29th but from the many casualties it would also absorb again on this day. The target once more was the synthetic oil refinery and between 0100 and 0200 hours, (33) aircrews were briefed. Lieutenant Crowell of the 579th was one of the two primary Bombardiers while Lieutenant Robinson of the 576th was the other. Two PFF lead ships were employed on this mission
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member eye-witness (Flight Officer Pierce) account stated that the Page ship was hit by anti- aircraft fire while in the target area; that it peeled off from the formation and headed towards Sweden, seemingly under control with no parachutes observed at that time. No other information was recorded in this MACR for that event after the crew dropped their bombs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Pilot, Lt. Page, rendered a brief account much later after his repatriation to U.S. control about the emergency situations regarding his crew, and death of (2) crew members. The plane had been badly damaged by flak to the extent that just over Sweden where landing was contemplated, the bail out order had to be given. This order was given early while the ship was under some control and at a reasonably safe altitude in order to permit a safe, controlled bail out of crew men. He stated that some (18) minutes elapsed from time of the bail out order until he was forced to abandon the ship which then was going out of control and into a spin. All crew members had had time to exit the aircraft at this moment, and his own escape was narrowly made due to excessive centrifugal forces as he was virtually thrown from the plane when it went inverted into a spin. Page learned later that two of his men had perished in this emergency, as described to him by Swedish officials of a ground party, but could not elaborate further. He also related in his written statement given some two years later that he had given a full report on this incident to the Office of the (U.S.) Military Attache in Stockholm right after the event. The crew Navigator, Lt. Bishop, added to the above account in stating that crew bail outs were made over Swedish territory at around 1220 hours; that all were out in about five minutes of time; and the two members who eventually perished, Sgts. Kellerman and Deck, were in the waist section of the plane, uninjured, but both were very nervous (about jumping). Swedish authorities searching the plane crash site told the crew survivors later that Sgt. Deck's body was found in the wreckage with parachute unopened and Kellerman's was found about 60 yards away with his chute partially depoloyed. It appeared the latter may have bailed out at the last moment, but was too low for his chute to have opened fully to break his fall. The same survivor account surmised that he believed that the Tail Gunner had been too frightened to bail out, and waited too long to attempt it, or that centrifugal forces may have prevented egress at that very late moment. The surviving men were interned by Swedish authorities at Rostanga initially. (Note: This emergency into Sweden territory was the second event for Lt. Page, the Pilot. On 4 Jan 44, the Keil mission, Pilot Page had diverted his plane and full crew into Smedstorp Air Base safely where they were interned for a period with all (10) members being returned to U.S. Military control soon after. All crew men were new members that had been assigned to Lt. Page in this second emergency. Refer to MACR #1910 for this earlier mission).
The #42-51125 crew
1st/Lt. Leander Page Jr. Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Leroy F. Qualey Co Pilot INT
2nd/Lt. Charles R. Bishop Navigator INT
2nd/Lt. David J. Hotle Bombardier INT
T/Sgt. Robert B. Kellerman Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Robert L. Moore Radio Op. INT
T/Sgt. Lenard S. Morgan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Edward G. Kowalchik Gunner INT
S/Sgt. James F. Rehill Jr. Gunner INT
S/Sgt. Sgt Glenn A. Deck Gunner KIA
Military Information: T SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
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