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John J. Dodrill Crew (left to right)
Standing: Myron E. Warner (BTG), Roy E. Toll (TG), George R. Bennett
(ROG),
Unknown, Garland L. Joseph (WG), Unknown
Kneeling: David S. Williams (CP), John J. Dodrill (P), Melvin D. Snyder
(BOM), Harry E. Mitchell (TTE)
Photo was taken by John Gross - Navigator (100th BG Photo Archives)
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2ND LT JOHN J. DODRILL |
P |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
| 2ND LT DAVID S. WILLIAMS |
CP |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
| F/O JOHN D. GROSS |
NAV |
POW |
10-Apr-45 |
Burg-bei-MAGDEBURG
With Bazin Crew |
2ND LT MELVIN D. SNYDER |
BOM |
NOC |
-- |
-- |
CPL GEORGE R. BENNETT |
ROG |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
CPL HARRY E. MITCHELL |
TTE |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
CPL MYRON E. WARNER |
BTG |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
CPL GARLAND L. JOSEPH |
WG |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
CPL ROY E. TOLL |
TG |
KIA |
10-Jan-45 |
COLOGNE |
351ST SQDN.. CREW AS
ABOVE JOINED THE 100TH ON 28 OCT 1944 ..
ON 10 JAN 45, LT RANDOLPH W. BAYER, FROM THE CREW OF GERALD BROWN, WAS
FLYING AS NAVIGATOR AND WAS KIA. SGT DAVID W. PITMAN WAS FLYING AS NOSE GUNNER AND WAS KIA.
EYEWITNESS:
"A/C #42-37936 was last seen at 1228 headed toward Belgium with bomb bay
doors open. The doors had been open since the target. All engines were operating and the
aircraft did not appear to be having difficulties."
All American Girl (named by Seymour Eichen, who flew it's first 35
missions) was flown on it's 99th , Jan 10, 1945, by John Dodrill of
Puente, Cal. One engine out,
he was in control when he left the formation and flew down through the
clouds, but no one knows the mysterious fate that overcame the "All American Girl." Afterwards a rumor spread she was
on a German Airfield."
(This was unfounded....pw) All nine of her crew are memorialized on the WALL OF THE MISSING at Cambridge.
The aircraft did in fact impact near Gladbach in Germany killing all on
board.
LIST OF MISSIONS FOR LT JOHN J. DODRILL:
(All Dec 44/Jan 45 missions come from Capt Bill
Carleton's Mission Report book from which we have the date, aircraft,
pilot, and any comments about the actual aircraft. Capt Carleton went to
each hardstand after every mission to take reports on returning
aircrafts status and needed repairs…mpf 2004)
|
NBR |
DATE |
MISSON |
AIRCRAFT # |
A/C NAME |
COMMENT |
|
01 |
21/11/44 |
OSNABRUCK |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
02 |
25/11/44 |
HAMM |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
03 |
30/11/44 |
MERSEBURG |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| NC |
02/12/44 |
BAD KREUZNACH |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
(abort, #1 engine changed) |
|
04 |
04/12/44 |
FRIEDBURG |
42-31708 EP-N/R |
SKIPPER II |
-- |
| NC |
11/12/44 |
GIESSEN |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
(abort, #4 engine changed) |
|
05 |
12/12/44 |
DARMSTADT |
42-107233 EP-N |
HUMPTY DUMPTY |
-- |
|
06 |
24/12/44 |
KAISERLAUTERN |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
-- |
|
07 |
25/12/44 |
KAISERLAUTERN |
42-31767 EP-E |
OUR GAL SAL |
-- |
|
08 |
27/12/44 |
FULDA |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
-- |
|
09 |
28/12/44 |
KOBLENZ |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
(super charger #1 and #4) |
|
10 |
30/12/44 |
KASSEL |
44-6295 EP-B |
WHITE CARGO |
-- |
| NC |
02/01/45 |
BAD KREUZNACH |
43-37521 EP-K |
SKYWAY CHARIOT |
(runaway #4 prop) *** |
|
11 |
07/01/45 |
COLOGNE |
43-38770 EP-? |
-- |
-- |
|
12 |
10/01/45 |
COLOGNE |
42-37936 EP-M |
THE ALL AMERICAN GIRL |
(MIA) |
*** Lt Dodrill had to make a landing at an emergency
airfield in France. After repairs, the crew returned to Thorpe Abbotts
on Jan 5, 1945.
Subj: Re: 351st squadron Request for Bombing Missions
Date: 6/29/2004 10:20:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:
warnersherry@comcast.net
Sherry Warner
To: MPFaley@aol.com
In the letter from Leala Dodrill, mother of Pilot John
Dodrill written Sept. 25 1945 to my grandparents, parents of Sgt Myron
E. Warner. This letter details what she was told about "Old American
Girl's" missions and crew changes. Source of information in letter is
via Lt. Melvin Snyder of the 100th BG, 351st Squadron to Mrs. Dodrill
and Mrs. Dodrill lists the missions as:
Bombing Missions for "Our American Girl":
Quote
"These are the first targets our crew was on Mel was with them, then he
(Mel) was taken off but he (Mel) would try to find the other five
(targets) and send later. I don’t believe Tony was with the boys at
Rheims was he?"
?. no date for possible target: Rheims???
1. Nov 21 - Osnabruck
2. Nov 25 - Hamm
3. Nov 30 - Merseburg
4. Dec 4 - Friedburg
5. Dec 5 - Berlin
6. Dec 24 - Kaiserlauten
7. Dec 25 - Kaiserlauten
8. "then they flew Dec 26-27 (no mission on Dec 26th but Dec 27th 100th
BG hit Fulda)
9. "then Jan 10th they didn't come back" quote Mel.
The rest of the letter mentions reports that "Our
American Girl" (OAG) crashed in German intact and other rumors. A brief
mention about ["Blacksheep" crash site in Poland April 18th "and its
still there."] Also, brief mention about reports of Russians having
POW's and about exchanges between Russians and Allies for American
prisoners at points designated along the Russian lines.
There is another letter mentioning that That "Our
American Girl" had 4 engine changes. That is all I have for now. Hope it
is helpful.
Sherry L. Warner - Sgt Myron E. Warner's niece |
-end-
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