Army Service No. (ASN): #O-531028
Enlistment Date: 02/05/1941 under Service No. #13014831
Entered the Service From: Virginia
753rd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
George N. Spaven, Jr. is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Warren County, Virginia.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. George N. Spaven (Father)
Claremont, Virginia
Information below gleaned from: https://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htm
Shot down April 22, 1944 (MACR #4180) aboard B-24H-10-CF Liberator #41-29273 "Flak Magnet"
Rank Name Serial # Pos Date Status Comments
1Lt George N Spaven, Jr 0531028 Pilot 22-Apr-44 KIA Buried Hoetmar, Kreis Warendorf
2Lt Robert L Zedeker 0811278 Co-pilot 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt Peter Kowal 0810990 Navigator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt James F Mortinson 0682501 Bombardier 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
S/Sgt Cedric C Cole 36721017 Radio Operator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
T/Sgt James H Wedding 33192630 Flight Engineer 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Lawrence J Scheiding 16092460 Ball Turret Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
Sgt DeSales A Glover 13131261 Armorer-Gunner May-44 RFS Return to ZI-Discharge 16 yrs old
S/Sgt James L Fittinger 39277261 Waist Gunner 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Herman A Peacher 17159837 Aerial Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft 4
Crew 33 started out in Tonopah with 2Lt Joseph M. Mahan as its pilot. Shortly before leaving the States, Lt. Mahan requested to be removed from flying duties and 2Lt George N. Spaven took his place. S/Sgt. Everett M. Cayford, waist gunner, is pictured with Crew 33 and also with Crew 20, pilot Robert Lamb in the same Squadron. Apparently he flew with Lamb's crew in combat. When that crew was transferred to the 389th, Cayford went with them and was shot down with them on July 31, 1944.
Taking Cayford's place in the waist was Sgt. DeSales Glover. He flew six combat missions in March and April before his true age of 16 was revealed to his fellow crew members. He had enlisted at the age of 14. He was sent back to the States on May 1, 1944. Sgt. Robert L. Allin now joined the crew and his first mission took place on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany.
Spaven's crew did not have a easy time of it in their brief combat tour of twelve missions. On March 8, 1944 the crew flew their second mission to Berlin to hit the Erkner Ball Bearing Plant. Upon their return to England, the crew believed their fuel was running low and they came down at Watton, crash landing their ship in order to avoid hitting the caravan at the end of the runway. All crew members (a number of them borrowed from Crew 25) were unhurt.
On twelve missions flown, Spaven's crew flew ten different B-24s from the 753rd Squadron. Their final mission was flown in Flak Magnet on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany. On this day the Eighth Air Force took off late in the afternoon and returned after dark. The 2nd Bombardment Division, trailing the attacking force, returned in darkness and was attacked over England by ME-410 night fighters. Seventeen Liberators, two from the 458th, were shot down over Norfolk. This did not concern Spaven's crew very much, as their B-24 had been shot down prior to the target by Major Heinz Bar. Flak Magnet was Bar's 200th aerial victory. (See detailed account below)
Radio Operator S/Sgt Cedric Cole, wrote an account of their last mission, Crew 33 and Flak Magnet: Their Finest Hour that can be found in the Stories page of this website.
MACR 4180
Spaven's A/C was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen. A/C then was brought under control and Spaven regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control.
***I would like to thank Michel Beckers Find A Grave ID 47419676 for adding his photos of George and his gravesite to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ernie Find A Grave ID 48454782 for updating DOB information in addition to linking family members to it***
Enlistment Date: 02/05/1941 under Service No. #13014831
Entered the Service From: Virginia
753rd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
George N. Spaven, Jr. is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Warren County, Virginia.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. George N. Spaven (Father)
Claremont, Virginia
Information below gleaned from: https://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htm
Shot down April 22, 1944 (MACR #4180) aboard B-24H-10-CF Liberator #41-29273 "Flak Magnet"
Rank Name Serial # Pos Date Status Comments
1Lt George N Spaven, Jr 0531028 Pilot 22-Apr-44 KIA Buried Hoetmar, Kreis Warendorf
2Lt Robert L Zedeker 0811278 Co-pilot 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt Peter Kowal 0810990 Navigator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt James F Mortinson 0682501 Bombardier 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
S/Sgt Cedric C Cole 36721017 Radio Operator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
T/Sgt James H Wedding 33192630 Flight Engineer 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Lawrence J Scheiding 16092460 Ball Turret Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
Sgt DeSales A Glover 13131261 Armorer-Gunner May-44 RFS Return to ZI-Discharge 16 yrs old
S/Sgt James L Fittinger 39277261 Waist Gunner 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Herman A Peacher 17159837 Aerial Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft 4
Crew 33 started out in Tonopah with 2Lt Joseph M. Mahan as its pilot. Shortly before leaving the States, Lt. Mahan requested to be removed from flying duties and 2Lt George N. Spaven took his place. S/Sgt. Everett M. Cayford, waist gunner, is pictured with Crew 33 and also with Crew 20, pilot Robert Lamb in the same Squadron. Apparently he flew with Lamb's crew in combat. When that crew was transferred to the 389th, Cayford went with them and was shot down with them on July 31, 1944.
Taking Cayford's place in the waist was Sgt. DeSales Glover. He flew six combat missions in March and April before his true age of 16 was revealed to his fellow crew members. He had enlisted at the age of 14. He was sent back to the States on May 1, 1944. Sgt. Robert L. Allin now joined the crew and his first mission took place on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany.
Spaven's crew did not have a easy time of it in their brief combat tour of twelve missions. On March 8, 1944 the crew flew their second mission to Berlin to hit the Erkner Ball Bearing Plant. Upon their return to England, the crew believed their fuel was running low and they came down at Watton, crash landing their ship in order to avoid hitting the caravan at the end of the runway. All crew members (a number of them borrowed from Crew 25) were unhurt.
On twelve missions flown, Spaven's crew flew ten different B-24s from the 753rd Squadron. Their final mission was flown in Flak Magnet on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany. On this day the Eighth Air Force took off late in the afternoon and returned after dark. The 2nd Bombardment Division, trailing the attacking force, returned in darkness and was attacked over England by ME-410 night fighters. Seventeen Liberators, two from the 458th, were shot down over Norfolk. This did not concern Spaven's crew very much, as their B-24 had been shot down prior to the target by Major Heinz Bar. Flak Magnet was Bar's 200th aerial victory. (See detailed account below)
Radio Operator S/Sgt Cedric Cole, wrote an account of their last mission, Crew 33 and Flak Magnet: Their Finest Hour that can be found in the Stories page of this website.
MACR 4180
Spaven's A/C was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen. A/C then was brought under control and Spaven regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control.
***I would like to thank Michel Beckers Find A Grave ID 47419676 for adding his photos of George and his gravesite to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ernie Find A Grave ID 48454782 for updating DOB information in addition to linking family members to it***
Army Service No. (ASN): #O-531028
Enlistment Date: 02/05/1941 under Service No. #13014831
Entered the Service From: Virginia
753rd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
George N. Spaven, Jr. is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Warren County, Virginia.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. George N. Spaven (Father)
Claremont, Virginia
Information below gleaned from: https://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htm
Shot down April 22, 1944 (MACR #4180) aboard B-24H-10-CF Liberator #41-29273 "Flak Magnet"
Rank Name Serial # Pos Date Status Comments
1Lt George N Spaven, Jr 0531028 Pilot 22-Apr-44 KIA Buried Hoetmar, Kreis Warendorf
2Lt Robert L Zedeker 0811278 Co-pilot 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt Peter Kowal 0810990 Navigator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt James F Mortinson 0682501 Bombardier 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
S/Sgt Cedric C Cole 36721017 Radio Operator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
T/Sgt James H Wedding 33192630 Flight Engineer 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Lawrence J Scheiding 16092460 Ball Turret Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
Sgt DeSales A Glover 13131261 Armorer-Gunner May-44 RFS Return to ZI-Discharge 16 yrs old
S/Sgt James L Fittinger 39277261 Waist Gunner 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Herman A Peacher 17159837 Aerial Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft 4
Crew 33 started out in Tonopah with 2Lt Joseph M. Mahan as its pilot. Shortly before leaving the States, Lt. Mahan requested to be removed from flying duties and 2Lt George N. Spaven took his place. S/Sgt. Everett M. Cayford, waist gunner, is pictured with Crew 33 and also with Crew 20, pilot Robert Lamb in the same Squadron. Apparently he flew with Lamb's crew in combat. When that crew was transferred to the 389th, Cayford went with them and was shot down with them on July 31, 1944.
Taking Cayford's place in the waist was Sgt. DeSales Glover. He flew six combat missions in March and April before his true age of 16 was revealed to his fellow crew members. He had enlisted at the age of 14. He was sent back to the States on May 1, 1944. Sgt. Robert L. Allin now joined the crew and his first mission took place on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany.
Spaven's crew did not have a easy time of it in their brief combat tour of twelve missions. On March 8, 1944 the crew flew their second mission to Berlin to hit the Erkner Ball Bearing Plant. Upon their return to England, the crew believed their fuel was running low and they came down at Watton, crash landing their ship in order to avoid hitting the caravan at the end of the runway. All crew members (a number of them borrowed from Crew 25) were unhurt.
On twelve missions flown, Spaven's crew flew ten different B-24s from the 753rd Squadron. Their final mission was flown in Flak Magnet on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany. On this day the Eighth Air Force took off late in the afternoon and returned after dark. The 2nd Bombardment Division, trailing the attacking force, returned in darkness and was attacked over England by ME-410 night fighters. Seventeen Liberators, two from the 458th, were shot down over Norfolk. This did not concern Spaven's crew very much, as their B-24 had been shot down prior to the target by Major Heinz Bar. Flak Magnet was Bar's 200th aerial victory. (See detailed account below)
Radio Operator S/Sgt Cedric Cole, wrote an account of their last mission, Crew 33 and Flak Magnet: Their Finest Hour that can be found in the Stories page of this website.
MACR 4180
Spaven's A/C was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen. A/C then was brought under control and Spaven regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control.
***I would like to thank Michel Beckers Find A Grave ID 47419676 for adding his photos of George and his gravesite to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ernie Find A Grave ID 48454782 for updating DOB information in addition to linking family members to it***
Enlistment Date: 02/05/1941 under Service No. #13014831
Entered the Service From: Virginia
753rd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, Heavy
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
George N. Spaven, Jr. is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Warren County, Virginia.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. George N. Spaven (Father)
Claremont, Virginia
Information below gleaned from: https://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htm
Shot down April 22, 1944 (MACR #4180) aboard B-24H-10-CF Liberator #41-29273 "Flak Magnet"
Rank Name Serial # Pos Date Status Comments
1Lt George N Spaven, Jr 0531028 Pilot 22-Apr-44 KIA Buried Hoetmar, Kreis Warendorf
2Lt Robert L Zedeker 0811278 Co-pilot 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt Peter Kowal 0810990 Navigator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
2Lt James F Mortinson 0682501 Bombardier 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft III
S/Sgt Cedric C Cole 36721017 Radio Operator 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
T/Sgt James H Wedding 33192630 Flight Engineer 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Lawrence J Scheiding 16092460 Ball Turret Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
Sgt DeSales A Glover 13131261 Armorer-Gunner May-44 RFS Return to ZI-Discharge 16 yrs old
S/Sgt James L Fittinger 39277261 Waist Gunner 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag 17B
S/Sgt Herman A Peacher 17159837 Aerial Gunner 2/E 22-Apr-44 POW Stalag Luft 4
Crew 33 started out in Tonopah with 2Lt Joseph M. Mahan as its pilot. Shortly before leaving the States, Lt. Mahan requested to be removed from flying duties and 2Lt George N. Spaven took his place. S/Sgt. Everett M. Cayford, waist gunner, is pictured with Crew 33 and also with Crew 20, pilot Robert Lamb in the same Squadron. Apparently he flew with Lamb's crew in combat. When that crew was transferred to the 389th, Cayford went with them and was shot down with them on July 31, 1944.
Taking Cayford's place in the waist was Sgt. DeSales Glover. He flew six combat missions in March and April before his true age of 16 was revealed to his fellow crew members. He had enlisted at the age of 14. He was sent back to the States on May 1, 1944. Sgt. Robert L. Allin now joined the crew and his first mission took place on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany.
Spaven's crew did not have a easy time of it in their brief combat tour of twelve missions. On March 8, 1944 the crew flew their second mission to Berlin to hit the Erkner Ball Bearing Plant. Upon their return to England, the crew believed their fuel was running low and they came down at Watton, crash landing their ship in order to avoid hitting the caravan at the end of the runway. All crew members (a number of them borrowed from Crew 25) were unhurt.
On twelve missions flown, Spaven's crew flew ten different B-24s from the 753rd Squadron. Their final mission was flown in Flak Magnet on April 22, 1944 to Hamm, Germany. On this day the Eighth Air Force took off late in the afternoon and returned after dark. The 2nd Bombardment Division, trailing the attacking force, returned in darkness and was attacked over England by ME-410 night fighters. Seventeen Liberators, two from the 458th, were shot down over Norfolk. This did not concern Spaven's crew very much, as their B-24 had been shot down prior to the target by Major Heinz Bar. Flak Magnet was Bar's 200th aerial victory. (See detailed account below)
Radio Operator S/Sgt Cedric Cole, wrote an account of their last mission, Crew 33 and Flak Magnet: Their Finest Hour that can be found in the Stories page of this website.
MACR 4180
Spaven's A/C was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen. A/C then was brought under control and Spaven regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control.
***I would like to thank Michel Beckers Find A Grave ID 47419676 for adding his photos of George and his gravesite to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ernie Find A Grave ID 48454782 for updating DOB information in addition to linking family members to it***
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