LaJeunesse Crew – Assigned 753rd Squadron – November 9, 1944
Standing: John Ackerman – B, Joe Shea – N, Bob LaJeunesse – P, Carroll Galloway – CP
Kneeling: Al Volk – TTG, Gerald Waggoner – TG, Joseph Stachnik – RO, Wayne Falkestien – NTG, Clarence Carter – E
John Ackerman was removed from the crew before leaving the States.
(Photo: Bob LaJeunesse)
Flying at the End of Hostilities
| Rank | Name | Serial # | Crew Position | Date | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lt | Robert J LaJeunesse | 822472 | Pilot | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| 1Lt | Carroll I Galloway | 2058155 | Co-pilot | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| F/O | Joseph R Shea | T128794 | Navigator | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| Lt | John Ackerman | Bombardier | Sep-44 | UNK | Not assigned w/crew | |
| S/Sgt | Joseph H Stachnik | 36867051 | Radio Operator | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| T/Sgt | Clarence E Carter | 7000367 | Flight Engineer | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| S/Sgt | Wayne T Falkenstien | 17064924 | Armorer-Gunner | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| S/Sgt | Harry R Fernandez | 39541799 | Aerial Gunner | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| S/Sgt | Albert J Volk | 33710475 | Aerial Gunner | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
| S/Sgt | Gerald E Wagoner | 34889849 | Aerial Gunner | 25-Apr-45 | FEH | Mission Load List |
The LaJeunesse Crew arrived at Horsham in November 1944 and had completed 30 missions in 5 months, ending their combat flying on April 25, 1945 – the last operational combat mission flown by the 458th Bomb Group. Not quite completing a 35-mission tour, they were assigned to ferry a Liberator back to the U.S. in June 1945.
[More content coming soon]
Missions
| Date | Target | 458th Msn | Pilot Msn | Serial | RCL | Sqdn | A/C Msn | A/C Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Dec-44 | HANAU | 155 | 1 | 42-50449 | W | J4 | 21 | HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY | |
| 24-Dec-44 | SCHONECKEN | 157 | 2 | 42-50555 | A | J4 | 7 | BABY SHOES | |
| 28-Dec-44 | ST. WENDEL | 160 | 3 | 42-50768 | Y | J4 | 20 | ARISE MY LOVE AND COME WITH ME | |
| 30-Dec-44 | NEUWIED | 161 | 4 | 44-40277 | P | J4 | 29 | MISS USED | |
| 03-Jan-45 | NEUNKIRCHEN | 165 | 5 | 44-40277 | P | J4 | 32 | MISS USED | |
| 08-Jan-45 | STADTKYLL | 167 | ABT | 44-40277 | P | J4 | -- | MISS USED | ABORT - #2 ENG |
| 10-Jan-45 | SCHONBERG | 168 | 6 | 42-110163 | M | J4 | 47 | TIME'S A WASTIN | |
| 13-Jan-45 | KAISERLAUTERN | 169 | 7 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 34 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 16-Jan-45 | MAGDEBURG | 171 | 8 | 42-50912 | D | J4 | 3 | THE TRAVLIN' BAG | |
| 29-Jan-45 | MUNSTER | 175 | 9 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 36 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 31-Jan-45 | BRUNSWICK | 176 | MSHL | -- | -- | -- | -- | MARSHALING CHIEF- 753RD | |
| 06-Feb-45 | MAGDEBURG | 178 | 10 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 38 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 09-Feb-45 | MAGDEBURG | 179 | 11 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 39 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 17-Feb-45 | ASCHAFFENBURG M/Y | REC | -- | 44-40285 | H | J4 | -- | TABLE STUFF | RECALL - 5220N 0247E WEATHER |
| 19-Feb-45 | MESCHADE | 184 | 12 | 42-50912 | D | J4 | 12 | THE TRAVLIN' BAG | |
| 21-Feb-45 | NUREMBERG | 185 | 13 | 44-40285 | H | J4 | 63 | TABLE STUFF | |
| 23-Feb-45 | GERA-REICHENBACH | 187 | 14 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 42 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 25-Feb-45 | SCHWABISCH-HALL | 189 | 15 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 44 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 28-Feb-45 | BIELEFELD | 192 | 16 | 44-40134 | R | J4 | 54 | UNKNOWN 039 | |
| 01-Mar-45 | INGOLSTADT | 193 | 17 | 44-40134 | R | J4 | 55 | UNKNOWN 039 | |
| 08-Mar-45 | DILLENBURG | 199 | 18 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 45 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 12-Mar-45 | FRIEDBURG | 202 | 19 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 48 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 18-Mar-45 | BERLIN | 206 | 20 | 44-40126 | K | Z5 | 69 | SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP | TYPO (RCL s/b L) |
| 31-Mar-45 | BRUNSWICK | 216 | 21 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 50 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 05-Apr-45 | PLAUEN | 218 | 22 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 52 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 06-Apr-45 | HALLE | 219 | 23 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 53 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 08-Apr-45 | UNTERSCHLAUERSBACH | 221 | 24 | 42-110163 | M | J4 | 81 | TIME'S A WASTIN | |
| 09-Apr-45 | LECHFELD | 222 | 25 | 42-51200 | F | J4 | 11 | STINKY | |
| 11-Apr-45 | REGENSBURG | 224 | 26 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 56 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 14-Apr-45 | POINTE DE GRAVE | 225 | 27 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 57 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 15-Apr-45 | ROYAN AREA | 226 | 28 | 42-110141 | U | J4 | 58 | BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN | |
| 19-Apr-45 | ZWIESEL | SCR | -- | 42-50608 | W | J4 | -- | FILTHY McNAUGHTY | SCRUBBED |
| 20-Apr-45 | ZWIESEL | 229 | 29 | 44-40273 | T | J4 | 56 | HOWLING BANSHEE | |
| 25-Apr-45 | BAD REICHENHALL | 230 | 30 | 44-40287 | J | J4 | 68 | BACHELOR'S BEDLAM |
June 1945
Standing: Joe Shea – N, Robert LaJeunesse – P, Carroll Galloway – CP
Middle Row: (#4) Joseph Stachnik – RO
Front Row: (#2) Al Volk – Gunner, (#3) Wayne Falkenstien – Gunner; (#5) Sgt Wayne A. Dame
If you can identify others in this photo, please contact me.
Mighty Eighth Museum – Memorial Garden
Commemorative plaque to the LaJeunesse Crew donated by Eric Volk