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

CrewLaJeunesse
 Rank  Name  Serial #  Pos Date  Status  Comments
1Lt Robert J LaJeunesse  0822472 Pilot 25-Apr-45 FEH Mission Load List
1Lt Carroll I Galloway 02058155 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 Sept 1944 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.

Missions

LaJeunesseMissions
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
03-Feb-45 MAGDEBURG 177 10 44-40118 S J4 WE'LL GET BY ABORT - SORTIE CRED
06-Feb-45 MAGDEBURG 178 11 42-110141 U J4 38 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
09-Feb-45 MAGDEBURG 179 12 42-110141 U J4 39 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
17-Feb-45 ASCHAFFENBURG M/Y REC -- 44-40285 H J4 -- TABLE STUFF RECALL - WEATHER
19-Feb-45 MESCHADE 184 13 42-50912 D J4 12 THE TRAVLIN' BAG  
21-Feb-45 NUREMBERG 185 14 44-40285 H J4 63 TABLE STUFF  
23-Feb-45 GERA-REICHENBACH 187 15 42-110141 U J4 42 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
25-Feb-45 SCHWABISCH-HALL 189 16 42-110141 U J4 44 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
28-Feb-45 BIELEFELD 192 17 44-40134 R J4 54 UNKNOWN 039  
01-Mar-45 INGOLSTADT 193 18 44-40134 R J4 55 UNKNOWN 039  
08-Mar-45 DILLENBURG 199 19 42-110141 U J4 45 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
12-Mar-45 FRIEDBURG 202 20 42-110141 U J4 48 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
18-Mar-45 BERLIN 206 21 44-40126 K Z5 69 SPITTEN KITTEN / SKY TRAMP
31-Mar-45 BRUNSWICK 216 22 42-110141 U J4 50 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
05-Apr-45 PLAUEN 218 23 42-110141 U J4 52 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
06-Apr-45 HALLE 219 24 42-110141 U J4 53 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
08-Apr-45 UNTERSCHLAUERSBACH  221 25 42-110163 M J4 81 TIME'S A WASTIN  
09-Apr-45 LECHFELD 222 26 42-51200 F J4 11 STINKY  
11-Apr-45 REGENSBURG 224 27 42-110141 U J4 56 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
14-Apr-45 POINTE DE GRAVE 225 28 42-110141 U J4 57 BREEZY LADY / MARIE / SUPERMAN  
15-Apr-45 ROYAN AREA 226 29 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 30 44-40273 T J4 56 HOWLING BANSHEE  
25-Apr-45 BAD REICHENHALL 230 31 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