Leroy E. Glass Crew

LEROY E. GLASS CREW - 358th BS
(crew assigned 358BS: 21 Aug 1944 - photo: 24 August 1944)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Leroy E. Glass (P)(WIA/POW), 2Lt Orlyn D. Chunat (CP)(WIA/POW),
2Lt Anthony J. Boland (B), 2Lt Joseph C. Haider (N)(POW)

(Front L-R) Cpl Fred E. Ehret (WG), S/Sgt Richard W. Eide (E)(POW),
S/Sgt James M. Brady (R)(POW), Sgt Grady H. Hodges (WG),
Sgt Vernon L. Trumbull (BT)(POW), Sgt Mark N. Davis (TG) POW)

Crewmen ranks and grades at time of last combat mission
Twenty-one Combat missions flown by 1Lt Leroy E. Glass Crewmen
235(3 Sept 1944), 236, 239, 242, 246, 247, 248, 251, 252, 253, 256, 257, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 269, 274, 275 (21 Nov 1944). For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

POW Mission:
Regular Bombardier 2Lt Anthony J. Boland did not fly with the 1Lt Glass Crew. Substitute Togglier T/Sgt Lawrence Casey (POW) was utilized.
Mission #275, 5 November 1944 to Mersburg, Germany in B-17G #44-6503 Lady Alta 358BS (VK-F). Was hit by flak on the bomb run. Returning crews reported that it pulled out of the formation, was flying 500 to 1,000 ft. below the formation, and held that position for about 30 seconds. It peeled off and was last seen diving down with all four engines running. The bombs were salvoed and the B-17 seemed under control. No parachutes were observed.

CoPilot, 2Lt Orlyn "Chub" Chunat later reported that they went down like a rock after they were hit by flak. He was badly wounded and was struggling to feather two engines. 1Lt Leroy E. Glass (P) was the last man to leave his fortress and came down alone far from the other crewmen, all of whom made successful parachute jumps. 2Lt Chunat parachuted into the hands two members of the German Wehrmacht, possibly saving his life. The Germany soldiers gave him immediate first aid and rushed him to a hospital where he received excellent care - a far cry from the treatment accorded other crewmen who fell into the hands of vengeful German civilians.

Mission #251, 5 October 1944:
Crew flew with 2Lt Louis M. Prudhoe, CoPilot on the 1Lt Troit D. Freeland Crew, as Pilot. 1Lt Leroy E. Glass (P) and S/Sgt James A. Brady (R) stood down. A substitute Radio Operator was utilized.

Crew Notes:

Cpl Fred E. Ehret (WG) - Was removed from the crew before arrival at Molesworth when the crew was changed from ten to nine men. Did not fly on any 303rd BG(H) combat missions.
1Lt Leroy E. Glass (P)(WIA/POW) - Flew as CoPilot on the crew's first two mission (#235- 236 with 2Lt George L. Conley flying as the crew's combat orientation Pilot.
2Lt Orlyn D. Chunat (CP)(WIA/POW) - Stood down on missions 235 and 236.
2Lt Joseph H. Haider (N)(POW), S/Sgt Richard W. Eide (E)(POW), Sgt Vernon T. Trumbell (BT)(POW, Sgt Grady W. Hodges (WG)(POW) and Sgt Mark N. Davis (TG) (POW) - Flew on all of the Glass crew combat missions.
S/Sgt James M. Brady (R)(POW) - Stood down on missions 251, 252 & 253
2Lt Anthony J. Boland (B) - Flew on twelve missions with the 1Lt Glass crew - 235, 236, 239, 242, 246, 247, 248, 251, 252, 253, 257, 264. The 1Lt Glass crew utilized substitute Bombardiers on nine missions - 256, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 269, 274, 275. Flew on 24 additional missions, with 11 different pilots: As Bombardier (4 missions) - 256, 261, 262, 263. As Navigator (20 missions) - 274, 275, 277, 279, 282, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 293, 294, 296, 298B, 299, 304, 305, 306. Thirty-five mission combat tour completed on 22 January 1945
T/Sgt Lawrence Casey (WG/TG/TOG)(POW) - Substitute Togglier on mission 262, 275. Flew on twenty-seven additional missions with 19 different Pilots. As Tail Gunner (12 Missions) 132, 150, 164, 170, 176, 177, 199, 214, 227, 230, 235, 244, 245. As Waist Gunner 3 missions) - 252, 252, 253. As Togglier (12 missions) - 261, 262, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 271, 272, 273, 274

[photo courtesy of Orlyn D. Chunat & George T. Mackin]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]