MY EVERLOVIN' GAL (PIC 1)

NAME

SER

BLK

SERIAL #

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

MY EVERLOVIN' GAL

41-28829

00-1

WALTER V. "BUD" LAWRENCE

Lost 29 Jun 44, GER - MACR 7093 - Pilot Gerald S. Westcott (506th BS)
Featured in "Only By The Grace of God: Surviving WWII"

Contributor - Walter V. "Bud" Lawrence (Asst. Eng/Left Waist Gunner - POW - Author)
Pilot 1st Lt. Gerald S. Westcott's crew flew the "Gal" on most all of our missions from 22 Apr 44 (1st mission Hamm Germany, Marshalling Yards, perhaps the one and only late mission flown by the 44th & possibly the 2nd Air Div.) That's a story in itself. Our last one was 29 Jun 44 to Magdeburg, Germany. (My 21st but 23rd for most of the rest of the crew.) We had a 9 man crew that day. The 506th BS of the 44th BG lost 2 B-24's as we were hit by flak over Magdeburg, Germany. Lt. Landahl's ship CAPE COD SPECIAL (42-51181) lost control and came down on MY EVERLOVIN' GAL (which was also in bad shape) and the "Gal" exploded on impact. The Radio Operator jumped out the bomb bay before the impact as the bomb bay caught fire, and the "Gal" broke apart at the waist windows (where I was). I was blown out and the tail gunner was floating down in the tail section, but managed to free himself and jump. 6 survived from Landahl's crew and we all were captured soon after landing by parachute. See LYNDY (42-110058) for Crew Photo.

Info Contributor - Stephen Adams
Received by the 44th BG (Mar 44) by the 66th BS then transferred to the 506th where RCL was changed from "H" to "-H" (27 Apr 44). RCL changed again in May to "H". MIA (over Magdeburg) 29 Jun 44. Hit by flak in the bomb bay area and then struck by the right wing of CAPE COD SPECIAL (42-51181) near the top turret. This caused the a/c to catch fire and explode. This was its 29th mission with the 44th. The only ref to the 392nd BG for this a/c, is when it was repaired at Wendling during April by the 565th Sub Depot.