John C. Lawlor, Jr. Crew

JOHN C. LAWLOR, JR. CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 27 Oct 1943 - photo: USA Training, Wala Wala, WA)

(Back L-R) 1Lt John C. Lawlor, Jr. (P), 1Lt David F. Hicks (CP),
1Lt Linton S. Munroe, Jr. (N), Capt Havlock W. Barker (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Jack W. Tower (E), unknown, T/Sgt Frank B. Esposito (R),
unknown, S/Sgt Warren V. Kuntashian (BT), Sgt Wyatt Weeks
Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission.

Not in Wala Wala, WA photo: S/Sgt Nelson Baker (WG), S/Sgt Joe W. Krenek (WG)
and S/Sgt Raymond K. Butler (TG). They joined the crew later at Scott Field, IL

Sgt Wyatt Weeks left the crew during training and flew no missions with the 303rd BG.

JOHN C. LAWLOR, JR. CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 27 Oct 1943 - photo: 21 Nov 1943)

(Back L-R) Capt John C. Lawlor, Jr. (P),
Capt Havlock W. Barker (B), 1Lt Linton S. Munroe, Jr. (N)

(Front L-R) S/Sgt Nelson Baker (WG), T/Sgt Jack W. Tower (E),
T/Sgt Frank B. Esposito (R), S/Sgt Joe W. Krenek (WG),
S/Sgt Warren V. Kuntashian (BT), S/Sgt Raymond K. Butler (TG)

Not in photo: 1Lt David F. Hicks (CP). Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission,
however Capt Lawlor was promoted from Capt after completing his missions

Twenty-six dispatched (25 credited) combat missions flown by 1Lt John J. Lawlor, Jr.:
83 (26 Nov 1943), 84, 85, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95, 98(A), 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 117, 118(AS), 119, 120, 121, 122 (18 March 1944).
For mission dates, targets and mission folders see Combat Missions.
(A) Non-credited aborted mission #98. (Flight time 2:23) #1 engine running excessively rough at altitude. Aborted and turned back at English coast.
(AS) Credited Abortive Sortie Mission #118 - (Flight time 8:21) Lost #4 engine from flak 15 minutes before reaching target. Bombs jettisoned over Germany. Became a straggler B-17 and was subjected to severe enemy aircraft attacks from all directions. Crew Gunners destroyed one enemy fighter and damaged two others but was able to return to England.

Eight B-17 flown by 1Lt John C. Lawlor, Jr. on his 26 dispatched combat missions:

B-17G (P) 42-31055 Aloha (360BS) PU-J - 17 missions (83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95, 98(A), 99, 100, 101, 103, 105, 114, 117,118
B-17G --- 42-31562 (No name)(358BS) VK-A - Mission 104
B-17F (P) 42-5854 Alley Oop (360BS) PU-C - Missions 109, 111
B-17F (P) 42-5081 Luscious Lady (427BS) GN-V - Mission 110
B-17G --- 42-37841 Banshee (360BS) PU-P - Missions 113, 121
B-17G --- 42-38204 (No name)(360BS) PU-H - Mission 119
B-17G --- 42-31756 (No name)(360BS) PU-M - Mission 120
B-17G --- 42-97552 The Road Back (360BS) PU-O - Mission 122
(P) See Nose Art Photos

Crew Notes:

The Lawlor Crew and three other crews buzzed the 1943 World Series game at Yankee Stadium on their way to Molesworth. See: Outfield Fly.
1Lt John C. Lawlor, Jr. (P) - 26 dispatched (25 credited) combat missions flown - All as a First Pilot. Completed his 25 mission combat tour on 18 March 1944 (Mission 122). Promoted from 1Lt to Capt after completing his combat missions and prior to departing Molesworth.
1Lt David F. Hicks (CP/P) - 28 dispatched (26 credited) combat missions flown: 15 credited missions with 1Lt Lawlor (83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 91, 93, 95, 98(A), 99, 100, 101, 103, 105, 111)- Substitute CoPilots used on the other 1Lt Lawlor missions.; Two credited missions as a Lead Crew Tail Gunner/Observer (110, 112), Two credited missions as a CoPilot with other Pilots (113, 117). Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 30 January 1944 and flew on 8 missions as a First Pilot (6 March to 26 March 1944): With 2Lt Joseph Stevens as CoPilot (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124); With 2Lt John C. Williams as CoPilot (128). Completed combat tour on 26 March 1944 (Mission 128).
1Lt Linton S. Munroe, Jr. (N) - 27 dispatched (26 credited) combat missions flown: 20 credited missions with 1Lt Lawlor. (All Lawlor missions except five - 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 where substitute Navigators were used). Made a claim for damaging a ME-109 fighter on mission 118 but claim was not approved.. Six additional credited missions flown: Two with other Pilots (128, 132); Four missions as a Lead Crew Navigator (120, 142, 150, 151). Completed combat tour on 11 May 1944 (Mission 151).
Capt Havlock W. Barker (B) - 29 dispatched (28 credited) combat missions flown: 18 credited missions with 1Lt Lawlor (All Lawlor missions except seven - 114, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122 where substitute Bombardiers were used). Ten additional credited missions flown: Two with other Pilots (112, 141); Eight as a Lead Crew Navigator (142, 146, 150, 151, 156, 161, 164, 186). Completed combat tour on 20 June 1944 (Mission 186). Promoted from 1Lt to Capt (As a Lead Crew Navigator) just prior to his last combat mission on 20 June 1944.
T/Sgt Jack W. Tower (E), T/Sgt Frank B. Esposito (R), S/Sgt Warren V. Kuntashian (BTG) and S/Sgt Joe W. Krenek (W) - 26 dispatched (25 credited) combat missions flown - all with 1Lt Lawlor. S/Sgt Kuntashian credited with a ME-109 German fighter damaged on mission 118. Completed 25 mission combat tours on 18 March 1944 (Mission 122).
S/Sgt Nelson Baker (WG) - 17 Dispatched (26 credited) missions flown: 24 credited missions with 1Lt Lawlor (All Lawlor missions except #113 where a substitute Waist Gunner was used). Flew on two credited missions with 2Lt David F. Hicks (123, 124). Completed combat tour on 20 March 1944 (Mission 124).
S/Sgt Raymond K. Butler (Armorer/TG) - Flew on 31 dispatched (27 credited) combat missions: 22 credited missions with 1Lt Lawlor (All Lawlor missions except 3 - 117, 118, 119- where S/Sgt Paul J. Davis was the substitute Tail Gunner who was credited with a ME 210 German fighter destroyed on mission 118). Flew on 8 dispatched (5 credited) missions with other Pilots: 2Lt Joseph E. Stevens (125); 2Lt Roy Eisele (128, 129 [Spare not used], 131, 132 [Aborted], 133 [Spare not used] and 134). Completed combat tour on 11 April 1944 (Mission 134).

Passenger on four 1Lt Lawlor crew combat missions

S/Sgt William F. Lovett (360BS Photographer) - missions 111, 113, 117, 122. Was dispatched on thirty-three 360BS combat missions - Seventeen as a Photographer, then four as a Waist Gunner and then twelve as a Togglier. Combat tour completed on 30 June 1944.

[photo courtesy of Warren Tashian]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]