Posted:
By: Jeffery L. Lyall
On: 02/17/2003
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My father, Lester Lyall, of the Al Hanson crew, "Little Pedro", flew with both of the men mentioned in your message. On Dads mission #20 he and the Little Pedro toggilier, Bernard Geen flew with Lt. Cain. Dads diary says they hit nasty weather in and out and dropped on a marshalling yard instead of the briefed target of Munich. Dad flew mission #22 with Lt. Fish. Dads pilot was ill and according to Dads diary this was Lt. Fish's first mission. Dads diary says "Flew mission twenty-three on Thursday, Aug. 24. The target-a munitions factory at Weimar near Leipzig, Germany. We flew #1 of the high sqd. high box. Our group was hit by fighters just south of Hamburg, the low box took the brunt of the attack. We lost two crews to 109's Attack lasted about 10 minutes. Flak was moderate over target. Carried 3-500 lb RDX bombs. Mission lasted 8 1/2 hrs-5 hrs on oxygen." I had noted from my reading about the 401st that the only two pilots Dad flew with besides "Pop" Hanson were both shot down on the same mission, which dad was also on. My friend Joe LaGrasta was on the regular crew of Jills Jalopy. He told me they came back from a pass and their plane was gone!
In some material I have, Lt. Fish is listed as L.S. Fish. Which is right? I would like very much to communicate with Lt. Cain if anyone knows his whereabouts. Bernard Green, the toggilier who flew the mission with Dad and Lt.Cain, passed away last fall.
Jeff Lyall
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