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T/Sgt Michael Kocherhan was radio operator on "Lil' Blon-Dee' S/N 42-73424. 343rd Bomb Sq. 98th Bomb Group, when it was hit by FLAK on 29 March 1944, just after bomb release and burst into flames. Within a few seconds both wings broke off and no chutes were seen.The pilot was Eric F Siemens. Robert Reed was a S/Sgt gunner.
B - 24 # 41- 29136 JU Q
" El Toro - Bull of the Woods "446th BG , 707th Sq.9/6/45
RFC Altus , Ok. - Scrapped
Herb Harper, Former Historian 98th Bomb Group Vets. Assoc.
The El Toro "Flying Bull" patch was designed by Walt Disney in 1944. It survived virtually unchanged until the close of the Air Station.
Below is El Toro Bull of the Woods plane
4 comments:
There is a story about R.B. Reed. He survived a long fall in the tail of a B-24. His story appeared in a book that was published right after World War II. I think this must have been the aircraft your relative was in. A crew list was published with the article. It says the pilot's name was "Siemans". I'll send you a copy if you are interested. It doesn't mention your relative, though it does say that Reed could not identify the name of one crew member (the co-pilot).
Yes, please send me a copy @petunialdy@hotmail.com
Robert Reed's family was invited to the commemoration but could not attend.
Thank you!
Linda
Hello my name is Anastasia and my Grandfather was the pilot of the "El Toro" Bull of the woods until Aug.1945 His name was 1st Lt.John C. Clausing .The El Toro suffered damage on a previous mission.So he had to take up th "Carolyn Sue" instead and was shot down over Germany and 7 other men from his crew became POW's and 2 were KIA. PLEASE contact me: Anastasiac72@hotmail.com. GOD BLESS...or clausinga72@yahoo.com
My uncle was the engineer on the aircraft (424) that crashed on 29 March 1944. His name was William Lenaire Livingston. I have the MACR, which has a typed copy of the letter from your family requesting info on your uncle's presence on the flight that day. Thanks for posting a photo of the memorial from Italy. I hope to visit that site one day.
Steve Waldrop
simmer2@aol.com
Lexington, SC
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