Lenich, Francis Augustus

Individual Personnel Data
Name Lenich, Francis Augustus   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 13028145   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #160 dated 5 December 1943, effective 5 December 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner / Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 8 May 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 August 1920
  • Promoted to Technical Segeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #33 dated 18 February 1944.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-03-31-516⇓ (4.933 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Daskey, Kendall (NMI)⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Smith, Paul Matthew, Jr⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Mohr, Lawrence Charles⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Lynch, John Daniel, Jr⇗BombardierKIA
T/SGT. Van Beveren, John Edward⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Eyre, Charles Harris⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Lenich, Francis AugustusBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schleuse, Robert Edward⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Teetman, Leo Frank, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Weaver, Jack Beverly⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 41‑24578⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back near Molesworth; #3 supercharger defective
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Ball Turret 42‑29688⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Kimbolton, with bomb load.
Sortie Report⇗
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
52⇗ 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29688⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group. After losing the formation in clouds, continued mission with the 303rd BG.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Deenethorpe on return.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Assumed position of high Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back over Kettering as #3 engine had to be feathered when hit by the horizontal stabilizer of the aircraft in the formation which had collided with a 303rd BG aircraft in mid-air.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38112⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, Lead Squadron, Lead Group. During assembly, forced out of the 41st Combat Wing while avoiding collision wih another aircraft; joined the 41st Composite Wing and completed the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because of oxygen system damage; filler line on ball turret was torn off.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Became separated from group prior to RECALL. Continued on to primary target area and released bombs in coordination with another wing. Bombing location given as 50°08',8°40', which was within the city of Frankfurt am Main.
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
-- 31 March 1944 None
Non-combat sortie 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Returning to base from a recalled operational mission, the left main landing gear would not extend. Pilot jettisoned bomb load and ball turret, then flew locally to use up fuel supply. He then made a successful landing using only the right main gear and tail wheel, resulting in minimal damage to the aircraft, and no injury to crew.
Sortie Report⇗
87⇗ 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group lead. Co-pilot and navigator became violently ill.
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗

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