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303rd BG Original Crew 359th Saunders Crew Frank A. Saunders, Pilot

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FRANK A. SAUNDERS CREW - 359th BS
B-17F Yahoodi #41-24608 (BN-S)
(original crew assigned 359BS: 10 July 1942 - photo: 10 Oct 1942)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Frank A. Saunders (P)(POW), 2Lt Leonard W. Kirk (CP)(KIA),
2Lt Oscar F. Forester, Jr. (N)(POW), 2Lt Norman Kossis (B)(KIA)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Victor J. Cozza (E), T/Sgt Walter M. Clevenger (R)(KIA),
Sgt Lloyd E. Wagner (E)(KIA), Sgt Leif H. Hoklin (TG)(POW),
Sgt Russell O. Chitwood (RWG)(KIA), Sgt Warren H. Gerow (WG)

• Sgt Lloyd E. Wagner (KIA) replaced T/Sgt Victor J. Cozza as Flight Engineer on the 03 Jan 43 flight. T/Sgt Cozza was medically grounded after mission #6 on 6 Dec 42 and became a 359th BS Radio Repairman. On 25 Nov 43 he tripped over a homelite generator and fell headfirst into the prop of 359th BS B-17F Knockout Dropper and was killed.
  
  
• Rufus C. Litton (LWG-KIA) replaced Sgt Wagner as Waist Gunner

(KIA-POW) on 03 Jan 43 mission #9 to St. Nazaire, France in B-17F #41-24608 Yahoodi 359BS (BN-S). B-17 ditched in English Channel after Group encountered intense flak and attacks by 25-35 enemy fighters. Sgt Howard A. High (TG-KIA) was a crew addition.

1Lt Frank A. Saunders in B-17F Yahoodi #41-24608 (BN-S)

   
Newspaper account of Sgt Lloyd E. Wagner's death —— Sgt Lloyd E. Wagner at Sick Call

[photos courtesy of Ric Wagner, nephew of Lloyd Wagner]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]