Wendell Taylor Johnson
2nd Lt 0-687036 613th
Pennsylvania
1919 - 1944
Co Pilot aboard 42-30855 (Ol' Massa)
Hummelstown cementery, Pennsylvania, USA
Wendell was born May 20, 1919, in Hummelstown, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.
He attendet Hummelstown High School.
In Feb 17, 1941 he enlisted to the Air Corps.
In 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG.
His last mission, May 8, 1944, Target: Berlin, after dropping bombs the plane was hit by flak.
Just 100 miles before the border of the Netherlands the bottom part of plane blew off.
He was awarded with an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Medal.
In 1944, when Wendell died on the age of 26 he left behind his family :
His father, Norman L Johnson, age 56
His brother, Willard D Johnson, age 26
His sister, Hilda C Johnson, age 26
His sister, J Ann Johnson, age 4
|
Mission to Berlin, germany, Crashed near Balkum, Germany
Ol' Massa landing at his base in Deenethorpe, England after a bombing raid on Wilhelmshaven, Germany , Feb 3 1944
Story told by Edward J. Rice, Left Waist Gunner.
Our mission proceeded as usual.
You never can tell what might happen when approaching the enemy coast.
We are flying up front on this one, little flak as we cross the coast.
As we got closer to Berlin, the flak was heavier, we are on the bomb run now.
Bomb bay doors are open, Bombs away !.
Damn that Flak, won't it ever stop... oh oh.... we got some in the wrong place again, No 4 engine.
We move out of the flak and start to breathe easier.
Flying a little low and offside now as we have trouble keeping up.
This could be bad...
About 100 miles from Holland it happens, so close to home yet so far.
A loud , hard, explosion toward the front of our plane.
The plane was flying level as die, but the whole tail was gone.
Just a great big hole looking out at the sky.
The blast blew everything toward the front of the plane, the plane can't fly this way.
I ran straight out into space thru the open fuselage, the plane was diving straight down.
It nosed into the ground and exploded, fire and smoke shot skyward.
What exactly happened to Wendell isn't sure, he was found dead and buried at the Achmer
cemetery grave no 77.
He got his final resting place at Hummelstown cementery, Pennsylvania.
|
If you have questions, remarks or information , please feel free to Email me
or leave a message in my guestbook
