1st Lt. Lewis Ezell Lanford
1stLanford, Lewis Ezell
World War II
Home Town: Woodruff, South Carolina Service: Army Air Force Unit: 344th Bomb Group, 496th Bomb Squadron Rank: First Lieutenant
WWII Army Enlistment Record on Lewis E. Lanford indicates he enlisted in the Air Corps at Fort Jackson on June 2, 1941, had 4 years of college and his occupation was secondary teacher and principal.
Entered service with the 344th BG / 496th BS in February 1945.
Date of Death: March 9, 1945
Details of Death: Pilot of bomber which was said to have exploded mid-air after being hit by flak over Germany.
Place of Burial: Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
March 9, 1945 344th Bomb Group, 496th Bomb Squadron Mission
MACR 12952
Shot down by flak over the target on the 9/3/45 mission to the Bierbach Marshalling yards, Germany. The aircraft flown by 1st Lt. Lewis Ezell Lanford was hit by flak in the left engine which began to smoke. It was observed to pull out of formation, then slid off left, and entered a spin. As it entered the overcast below, it was seen to explode in mid air. The pilot, and four of the crew were killed, but three managed to bail out and were captured as POW’s. Aircraft record card confirms this aircraft was lost MIA on this date. According to Horst Weber, the aircraft crashed at Langen near Frankfurt, Germany.
Three of the crew actually parachuted to the ground, one severely wounded. All were captured, and became POWs. No disposition of remains were cited, but the 4 crewmen killed in the crash are buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. They lie together in Plot I, site 255.
Casualty Questionnaire
Name: Charles F. Athy, Jr.
Rank : 1st Lt.
S/N: 02061211
Date of Crash: 9 March 1945
What was the mission? PFF, Target- Biebrick, Germany
Where were you when you bailed out? Between Weisbaden and Biebrick, Germany
Did you bail out? Yes
Did other members of the crew bail out? Yes, S/Sgt. George Glick
Where did your aircraft strike the ground? No Knowledge
What was the cause of the crash? Enemy anti-aircraft
Type of Aircraft: B-26B55
List of Crew
Pilot Lanford, Lewis E. 1st Lt. 0-433088
Co-Pilot Lohnes, Clarence s. 2nd Lt. 0-782311
Bomb Hague, Harry M. 1st Lt. 0-744309
Rad-Gun Boardingham Jr., George T/Sgt. 20249506
Eng-Gun Glick, George A. T/Sgt. 37357621
Tail-Gun Barnes, Cecil G. S/Sgt. 37048288
Gee-OPR. Athy Jr., Charles F. 2nd Lt. 0-2061211
Number of Persons Aboard Aircraft: Crew: 7 Passengers: 0 Total: 7
Eyewitness Descriptions:
In the vicinity of the target area, I saw aircraft number 42-96094, piloted by Lt. Lanford, just after it pulled out of formation. The aircraft appeared to be sliding off and then lost control went into a spin, then aircraft burst into flame. I did not see the aircraft crash. Members of my crew stated that they saw two men leave the aircraft. One (1) chute opened. One man made a delayed jump, and chute was not seen open.
Clarence A. Schorr
1st Lt., Air Corps,
Bomb., 494th Bomb Sq.
Just before the target I noticed the aircraft piloted by Lt. Lanford. The left engine appeared to be smoking. Aircraft pulled left out of formation and pulled up on a wing, the aircraft was burning and went down in a dive. Aircraft appeared to explode just above the overcast. I saw two men leave the aircraft. I did not see any chutes open, as I followed the descent of the aircraft instead of the men.
Allan W. Arneson
1st Lt., Air Corps,
Bomb., 494th Bomb Sq.
I saw the aircraft piloted by Lt. Lanford, just after it was hit by flak. Aircraft appeared to be hit in the left engine and was smoking badly. Aircraft pulled out of the formation. Left engine burst into flame, aircraft was falling off on left wing. I saw two objects which appeared to be men leave the aircraft. I did not see any chutes open. I did not see the plane crash.
Mitchell Dozet
2nd Lt., Air Corps,
Co-Pilot, 494th Bomb Sq.
42-96094 Battle Baby N3-B 344th BG 496th BS MACR 12952
3/9/1945 Shot down by flak over the target on the 9/3/45 mission to the Bierbach Marshalling yards, Germany. The aircraft flown by 1st Lt. Lewis Ezell Lanford was hit by flak in the left engine which began to smoke. It was observed to pull out of formation, then slid off left, and entered a spin. As it entered the overcast below, it was seen to explode in mid air. The pilot, and four of the crew were killed, but three managed to bail out and were captured as POW’s. Aircraft record card confirms this aircraft was lost MIA on this date. According to Horst Weber, the aircraft crashed at Langen near Frankfurt, Germany.
Pilot 1st Lt. Lewis Ezell Lanford (killed)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Clarence Sylvester Lohnes (bailed out, POW)
Bombardier 1st Lt. Harry Milton Hague (killed)
Gee Operator 2nd Lt. Charles Franklin Athy – GEE operator (bailed out, POW)
Radio/Gun T/Sgt. George Boardingham, Jnr (killed)
Eng/Turret T/Sgt. George Arie Glick (bailed out, POW)
Arm/Tail Gun S/Sgt. Clyde G Barnes (killed)
Lewis Ezell Lanford was born in 1919 in Woodruff, South Carolina, the son of Lewis Grover Lanford. He attended high school and then enrolled in Clemson University, graduating with the class of 1940. He taught one year at Sharon High School near Abbeville, South Carolina.
According to his NARA enlistment record, he enlisted at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on June 2, 1941, for the aviation cadet program. He took flight training, being commissioned and awarded wings at Barksdale AAF in 1942. He was then assigned to Ellington Field at Houston, Texas as a pilot instructor for a period of time.
He deployed overseas in February 1945, assigned to the 496th Bomb Squadron of the 344th Bomb Group. This unit flew B-26 Marauder aircraft from an air field in France. Lt Lanford had flown 29 mission when on March 9, 1945, he was tasked to participate in a raid on the railway marshalling yards at Biebrick, Germany.
Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit by flak, and the left engine began smoking. Although wounded in the left arm, Lt Lanford attempted to control the aircraft until the crew bailed out. The aircraft fell out of formation out of control, and exploded. Observers stated at least two parachutes were seen. The aircraft crashed near the target area.
According to records, Lt Lanford had more than 3,000 flying hours when killed.
Spartanburg Herold 10/5/1945 p2
