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 359th Lutz Crew
John R. Lutz, Pilot
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JOHN R. LUTZ CREW - 359th BS
(crew assigned 359BS: 04 Oct 1944 - photo: 09 Nov 1944)

(Back L-R) Capt John R. "Dick" Lutz (P), 2Lt Orin H. Schopplein (CP),
1Lt Lawrence C. Carriere (N), S/Sgt John R. Bailey (TG)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Christopher A. Candito (E), T/Sgt Edward N. Lovelock (R),
T/Sgt William F. Goudy (TOG), Sgt Paul B. Kapczynski (BTG)(KIA), S/Sgt Roger K. Bates (WG)

Ranks and Grades after completing combat tours.


Twenty-eight credited combat missions flown by Capt. John R. Lutz
As Crew Pilot -259 (18 Oct 1944, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, 275, 290 (24 Dec 1944). As Lead Crew pilot - 276 (23 Nov 1944), 277, 282, 295, 306, 313, 323, 336, 340, 344, 356, 360 (15 April 1945). Non-Credited missions: As Scouter B-17 Co Pilot (297); As Weather B-17 Pilot (318)
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Fifteen B-17Gs flown on Capt John R. Lutz 28 credited combat missions:

  • 44-8318 (No name) (360BS) PU-P - Mission 259
  • 42-31830 (P) Marie (359BS) BN-N - Mission 260
  • 44-6309 Duchess' Granddaughter (359BS) BN-T - Missions 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 271, 272
  • 42-102484 (P) Heller's Angel (359BS) BN-K - Mission 268
  • 43-38764 (No name) (359BS) BN-C - Mission 269
  • 42-97944 (P) Daddy's Delight (359BS) BN-I - Mission 27
  • 42-97058 (P) Scorchy II (359BS) BN-V - Mission 290
  • 44-8439 (No Name) (360BS) PU-Z (PFF B-17G) - Missions 276, 306
  • 44-8308 (No name) (427BS) GN-Z (PFF B-17G) - Mission 282
  • 43-37527 Queen of Hearts (359BS) BN-Q (PFF B-17G) - Missions 277, 336, 340
  • 44-8137 (No name) (359BS) BN-Z (PFF B-17G) - Mission 295
  • 44-8564 (No name) (359BS) BN-Z (PFF B-17G) - Missions 313, 356, 360
  • 44-8256 Yankee Girl (359BS) BN-Y (PFF B-17G - Missions 323, 344
  • 42-31055 (P) Aloha (360BS) PU-J - Mission 297 (Scouter B-17 Flight)
  • Unknown B-17G - Mission 318 (Weather B-17 Flight
Crew Notes:
  • Capt John R. "Dick Lutz (P) - 26 credited missions flown: Flew with his assigned crew until he was appointed to fly as a Lead Crew Pilot. Completed 26th credited mission on 15 April 1945 (Mission 360).

  • 2Lt Orin H. Schopplein (CP) - 30 credited missions flown: 7 with 1Lt Lutz (260, 261, 263, 265, 290, 323, 336); With other Pilots - As Co Pilot (314, 315); As Lead Crew Tail Gunner/Observer (262, 266, 267, 268, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 282, 283, 286, 287, 292, 312, 321, 327). Completed combat tour on 14 March 19045 (Mission 336).

  • 1Lt Lawrence C. Carriere (N) - 34 credited missions flown: 18 with 1Lt Lutz (259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 271, 272, 275, 277, 290; As Lead Crewman 336, 344, 356, 360); 16 with other Pilots (273, 274, 278, 280, 291A; As Lead Crewman 279, 283, 286, 295, 297, 304, 315, 316, 325, 352). Completed combat tour 15 April 1945 (Mission 360).

  • T/Sgt William F. Goudy (TOG) - 35 missions flown: 8 with 1Lt Lutz (260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 272); 27 missions with 15 other Pilots (268, 269, 275, 280, 287, 288, 290, 293, 294, 296, 298, 300, 301, 307, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 317, 318, 320, 322, 323, 326, 337, 339). Completed combat tour on 18 March 1945 (Mission 339).

  • T/Sgt Christopher A. Candito (E) - 28 missions flown: 24 with 1Lt Lutz (All Lutz missions except 268, 276, 297, 313); 4 missions with other Pilots (1Lt Knutzen (327), Lead Crew Pilot Maj Charles E. Kerwin (328, 335, 350). Completed 28th credited mission on 15 April 1945 (Mission 360).

  • T/Sgt Edward N. Lovelock (R) - 26 credited missions flown: 22 with 1Lt Lutz (All Lutz missions except 268, 276, 313, 344); 4 missions with other Pilots (280, 327, Lead crew missions with Maj Charles E. Kerwin (328, 335). Completed 26th credited mission on 15 April 1945 (Mission 360).

  • Sgt Paul B. Kapczynski (BTG)(KIA) - 20 credited missions flown: 13 with 1Lt Lutz (259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 271, 272, 275, 277); 7 missions with other Pilots (268, 280, 290, 294, 295, 298, 305). Killed in Action on mission 305, 21 Jan 1945, to Aschaffenburg, Germany in B-17G 42-97058 Scorchy II (359BS) BN-V. 1Lt Richard E. Tasker, Pilot (8 KIA 1 POW MACR 11760). Had a mid-air collision, at the turning point before reaching the Initial Point, with Lead crew PFF B-17G 44-8137 (No name)(359BS) BN-Z, 1Lt Richard D. Duffield, Pilot (9 KIA 1 POW - MACR 11759). B-17s crashed near Rottweil, Germany

  • S/Sgt Roger K. Bates (WG,TOG,TG)(Bail Out) - 34 credited missions flown: 14 with 1Lt Lutz (259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 271, 272, 275, 277, 356); 20 with 10 other Pilots (As Waist Gunner - 270, 287, 292, 298, 301, 343, 349, As Togglier - 325, 326, 328, 330, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 344, 345, As Tail Gunner - 352). Bailed out from a burning B-17 on 13 January 1945 (Mission 301) 2Lt Jack E. Stocks, Pilot, who later was able to make an emergency landing at a European landing strip. S/Sgt Bates was recovered by U.S. Army ground troops and returned to Molesworth. Completed combat tour on 5 April 1945 (Mission 352).

  • S/Sgt John R. Bailey (TG,WG,TOG) - 33 credited missions flown: 14 with 1Lt Lutz (As Tail Gunner - 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 271, 272, 277, As Waist Gunner - 295, 306), 19 with 9 other Pilots (As Tail Gunner - 268, 273, 292, As Togglier - 314, 318, 319, 321, 324, 325, 326, 328, 330, 333, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 342. Completed combat tour on 21 March 1945 (Mission 342).
[courtesy of Rick Gushman, nephew of Ed Lovelock]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]