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looking for info on Lady Luck

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grace
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looking for info on Lady Luck

Hi,
     I have recently begun researching my uncle who was listed as MIA in WWII. His name was John V. Lyons and he flew in the 97th bomb group, 342 bomb Squadron.  His plane was the B-17 the Lady Luck.  My grandmother got a letter saying that the plane had gone done off the coast of Sicily on April 17, 1943 and that everyone on board was listed as MIA.  Recently I have aquired a copy of the MACR and it says that the leader of the group, Major Sammons (could be Summons or Simmons) thought that the plane had landed and that everyone had gotten out all right.  There is also mention that the crew may have been taken as Prisoners of War.  Anyone with any info on the plane, the crew or witnesses to the incident, please contact me.  I appreciate any help that you may have.
Sincerely,
Grace

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    jpeters140
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    RE: looking for info on Lady Luck (permalink)
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    Grace....According to Dick Drain's 5th Wing History of Aircraft Assigned....
    Your uncle was on :

    B-17  42-5133  NO NAME  342  MIA Palermo  17-4-43. Harold Schirmer crew, Murray,Price,Reed,Stout,Rossetti, Starin,Pollock,Somers,LYONS. All KIA. (MACR 3684, 16527).
     
    Excerpt from Venit Hora..The Hour Has Come. The 97th Bomb Group in WW II.
     
    Page 95.. Mission #92..Palermo, Sicily, Docks and shipping. 17 April 1943.
     
    "A plane (342) went done in flames over the target. Two others made forced landings at Bone, N.Africa".

    Note : There are "TWO"  MACRs on 42-5133. You say you have the MACR...does the MACR match one of the TWO referenced in the 5th Wing History ?
    IF not, I suggest you contact LYNN_GAMMA@maxwell.af.mil and request copies of the two MACRs.
    (This may take a while, as the staff has encountered a cutback in personell).

    (Lady Luck in the 97th was 42-30169 which was MIA Atzersdorf 24-5-44).
    There were THREE LADY LUCKs in the 5th Wing (B-17)

    Jim :-) 
    post edited by jpeters140 -

    James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
    grace
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    RE: looking for info on Lady Luck (permalink)
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    Jim,
    thank you for the information.  I have tried three times to send an e-mail to the person you suggested that I contact and it keeps failing. Is there another e-mail address that I could send my request to.  Once again, thank you for your help.
    Grace
    jpeters140
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    RE: looking for info on Lady Luck (permalink)
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    Grace...You might try all upper case letters or all lower case letters.  I have seen both as addresses.

    Also, there is another address which also may be all upper case letters or lower case letters.

    Also try a dot instead of a _ between the first and last name :

    lynn.gamma@maxwell.af.mil               elsie.roberts@maxwell.af.mil

    I have not, asked for any MACRs myself, so I am not sure which is correct.

    Jim :-)
    post edited by jpeters140 -

    James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
    vic-513
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    RE: looking for info on Lady Luck (permalink)
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    Grace,
     
    The correct address is Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL.  Don't despair if it takes several weeks to receive the MACR. As Jim said, they are shorthanded and overloaded.
     
    Vic
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