457th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group Honor Roll
Mission No. 77		 749th Bomb Squadron
457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
                                         (457th Home) (Back)            Updated 12/16/2001, 19:17:19

Mission Narrative

Mission No. 77
Date - June 25, 1944
Target - Montbartier, France
Plane s/n 43-37733, named "Ace of Hearts, and piloted by Lt Scott B. Ormsby, was hit by very accurate flak by a small battery of guns near St Lo. Two bursts hit under his wings. No 2 engine was knocked out and the cabin began to fill with smoke. They swung away from the formation and most of the crew prepared to bail out although the bail-out signal was not given. Four of the crew, thinking the bail out alarm system had failed, bailed out and landed in German hands. The four were: Vince Lemon, Fred Stallings, Alvin Hendryx, and Art Mendenhall. Vince Lemon broke and arm and a leg on landing and was assigned to a German hospital in Rennes, Brittany, France and was repatriated when the Allies siezed the city. The other three remained as POW's till the end of the war.

......... Crew

The crew was as follows:
     Plane s/n 43-37733     
PilotLt Scott B. Ormsby   POW
CopilotLt Fred D. Stallings   POW
Navigator Lt Vincent A. Lemon Repatriated
BombardierLt Arthur R. Mendenhall POW
Aircraft EngineerSgt Fred F. Castle   POW
Radio OperatorSgt Jay L. Saulsburry   POW
Left Waist GunnerSgt Alvin Hendryx   POW
Ball Turret GunnerSgt Gordon J. Neelyl   POW
Tail GunnerSgt Ray F. Jones  POW
                                         (457th Home) (Back)            Updated 12/03/2000, 19:17:19
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the Content:  Willard (Hap) Reese (Website Author)