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Perry E. Powell and Bruce E. Phelps

Name: Perry E. Powell

 

Service number: O-768657

 

Born: July 22, 1920 Nebraska

 

Hometown: Garden County, Nebraska

 

Family: 

 

Perry A. Powell (father)

Maria L. Powell (mother) 

Carol M. Powell (sister) 

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

 

Function: Pilot

 

Division: 8th Air Force

 

Squadron: 603rd Bomber Squadron
 

Group: 398th Bomber Group Heavy
 

Status: KIA

 

Date of death: 3 February 1945

 

Place of death: Lehmke, Germany

MACR: 12215

 

Awards: Distinguished Flying cross,

               Air medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters 

               Purple Heart 

 

Grave Number: Plot B Row 33 Grave 56

 

Cemetery:  American War Cemetery Ardennes

Sources: Marcel Janssens, Rik Vermeir, Carol Powell Mohr, Paul Crawford, "40-45 Boven Schelde, Dender en Durme" by Cynrik De Decker, www.8thafhs.com, www.398th.org

Name: Bruce E. Phelps

 

Service number: O-722753

 

Born: April 2, 1920 Kansas

 

Hometown: Chautauqua County, Nebraska

 

Family: 

 

Elmer Roy Phelps (father)

Trella Maude (Smith) Phelps (mother) 

Roderick Phelps (brother)

Robert Phelps (brother)

Wanda W. Phelps (wife)

Douglas Phelps (son) 

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

 

Function: Bombardier

 

Division: 8th Air Force

 

Squadron: 603rd Bomber Squadron
 

Group: 398th Bomber Group Heavy
 

Status: KIA

 

Date of death: 3 February 1945

MACR: 12215

 

Place of death: Lehmke, Germany

 

Awards: Air medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters 

               Purple Heart 

 

Grave Number: Plot B Row 33 Grave 56

 

Cemetery:  American War Cemetery Ardennes

This is an article I wrote about Perry Powell and his crew.
It was published in the 8th AF News magazine of June 2016.

The Last Mission: "Powell's Prowler"

Back row  L to R.: Thomas A. L’Estrange, Waist gunner; Clarence H. Harper, Engineer and Top Turret Gunner; Kennth R. Smith, Ball Turret Gunner; Robert H. Colgan, Radio Operator and Waist gunner; Marvin Y. Luckie, Togglier and Nose gunner.

 

Front row L to R: Lt. Samuel T. Walker, Co-Pilot; Lt. Bruce E. Phelps, Bombardier; Lt. John K. Hancock, Navigator; Lt. Perry E. Powell, Pilot.

 

Not in this picture: Tail gunner Leroy K. Bayless.

picture: www.398th.org

On October 17, 1944, 1,338 Bombers and 811 fighter planes from the American 8th Air Force carry out Mission 681. The targets for this Mission are multiple marshalling yards in and around Cologne and a chemical factory in Leverkusen.

A couple of hours later, the crew of one of the B-17 Bombers that had dropped their bombs over Berlin would stay at the castle in Wieze.

It was the second mission for Pilot Perry Powell and his men. 

Their plane, Powell's Prowler, named after its pilot, was damaged during their first mission, and their Tail Gunner, the 19-year old Leroy K. Bayless, died of anoxia, lonely in his position in the back of the plane.

Powell's Prowler wasn't repaired yet when they would fly their second mission on October 17.

The Betsy Ross would be the replacement plane. This B-17 had already been on 45 missions. The 46th  mission would become her last one.

 

At 6:33 they left their base in Nuthampstead, England, and flew in the direction of Cologne.

They were hit by German Anti-Aircraft Guns (FLAK) over Cologne. Engine number 2 was on fire and debris was flying around. Metal parts were flying into the cockpit and into engine number 1. The instrument panel and Powell were hit. Because of this, Powell's parachute was damaged and unusable.

In an attempt to put out the fire, Powell left the formation and dove downwards. The fire was under control, and the crew started throwing out everything that wasn't attached to the plane. However, the plane kept losing altitude and because of the propeller rotating out of balance, it looked like the left wing would break of any moment. As soon as he was sure that they were not over enemy territory any longer, he ordered his crew to jump out of the plane with their parachutes. Powell and Samuel Walker, the co-pilot, would try to land the plane. They were now flying over Belgium.

The crew members, who had jumped, drifted with the wind and landed somewhere between Gijzegem and Wieze. Here they were picked up and brought to the castle in Wieze. At this time, the castle was occupied by Canadian soldiers. A couple of months earlier it was being occupied by the Black Brigade.

We can say for sure that the Americans wouldn't have had a hearty welcome if the Black Brigade had still occupied the castle in October 1944.

Meanwhile, Powell and Walker were looking for a good spot to land the plane. They thought they had found one on the left bank of the river Schelde, somewhere between Wichelen and Berlare. What looked like a nice green piece of land was in reality very marshy ground.

 

After a few meters, the wheels sunk in the ground and the mud flew up in the air. The Ball turret also disappeared in the mud. The airplane continued to glide this way until the nose came down and the tail went up. The plane came to a halt, and, with a big bang, the tail came down again.

Two American Mustangs, fighter planes which escorted the Bombers, circled around the B-17.

When Powell and Walker crawled from the cockpit on top of the plane, they waved to the Mustangs to signal that everything was OK. The Mustangs tipped their wings and disappeared over Kalken, in the direction of England.

This is probably the first picture taken of the plane. Note the British soldier standing on the tail of the plane to guard it.

Picture: Marcel Janssens

Marcel Janssens from Berlare remembers very well what happened that day:

"We were still in class when we heard the heavy noise of a bomber. We were already used to it but this time it sounded different. The school gates just opened when we heard that it was an American airplane that was trying to find a landing spot. When we arrived at the church, we could leave the rows of students. Somebody yelled that the plane had landed at the "Hugen Berg."  We all knew where that was, so everybody started running there. Everyone tried to find the shortest route, but it was about 2 km's and because I was walking on wooden shoes I had to give up."

 

Marcel would see the plane the day after and would spend many hours and days playing in it.

Once the plane wasn’t guarded anymore it became

a playground for a lot of children.

Picture: Marcel Janssens

In 1945 the plane was already largely looted.

Picture: Marcel Janssens

After their emergency landing, Powell and Walker were picked up and transported to the castle of Wieze, where the rest of the crew was already staying.

Ms. Tony Van Roy was one of the villagers of Wieze who met the men from Powell's crew. Her father Raymond was Mayor of Wieze and Tony was working for the Red Cross in that period. She had studied in England and spoke the language fluently, so she could communicate with the Americans without any problem.

Every day she would bring them bread, milk, meat and of course a couple of beers.

The crew would spend 3 days in the castle of Wieze before they were transported back to the base of the 398th Bomber Group in Nuthampstead.

Marcel Janssens was still fascinated by the air war and Powell's crew years after the emergency landing.

It was thanks to him that in the 90's Tony Van Roy came in contact with Gwendolyn Luckie, the sister of Marvin Luckie. Marvin was the togglier and nose gunner of Powell's plane. In a postcard that Tony sent to Gwendolyn she called Marvin "A Luckie boy falling from the sky."

Part of the crew and Canadian soldiers on the stairs of the castle in Wieze.

The man in the middle of the picture is Thomas L’Estrange, one of the waist gunners.

Picture: Marcel Janssens

Back row: Kenneth R. Smith- Robert Colgan - Marvin Luckie

Front row: Thomas L'Estrange - Clarence Harper

Picture: Marcel Janssens via Paul Crawford

Part of the crew standing on the stairs of the castle, together with a Canadian soldier.

Powell is the man who is closest to the camera.

Picture: Marcel Janssens via Paul Crawford

When the crew was back at their base in Nuthampstead, Powell wrote a letter to his father in which he said: "We really plowed a farmer’s field in Belgium! I have a lot to tell when I am back home."

 

Sadly enough, Powell and his men would never see their homes again.

 

In the meantime, Powell's Prowler was repaired and the crew would fly their own plane again.

On February 3, 1945, they would fly their 22nd mission. By that time, Powell was already decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

 

John K. Hancock would be very lucky because he wouldn't be a part of the crew on this mission.

No less than 1,437 bombers and 948 fighter planes would set course direction to Berlin. They expected heavy flak and a lot of enemy fighters.

Around 10:30 AM, about an hour before they would reach their target, fate would strike.

By prop wash of the airplanes flying close to each other, Powell's plane would collide with Lt. John McCormick's plane.

Crewmembers of other bombers flying in their formation would later testify that they didn't see any parachutes when the planes fell and disappeared in the clouds.

From Powell's crew, only tail gunner Dave Bancroft would survive. Bancroft was one of the many replacements for Leroy Bayless, who was killed during Powell's first mission.

The story of his close encounter with death is gruesome. Powell's plane was broken in 2 but still hanging together with a few connections. Bancroft was alone in the rear part of the plane when he suddenly saw a pair of hands sticking up through a hole. These were probably the hands of one of the waist gunners. Bancroft tried to pull him up but the hole was too small. At that point, both parts of the plane broke off completely and the hands disappeared.

The tail section was going down in free fall and Bancroft tried to open the escape hatch. For some reason, the hatch was jammed and he started to pull, pound and slam on it. Just when he was about to give up, the hatch opened and he could jump out with his parachute.

 

Powell, Walker, Luckie, Phelps, L’Estrange, Harper, Colgan and Aleskyn were killed. According to the MACR all of them, except for Powell, were buried by the Germans in the cemetery of Lehmke, a small village not so far from the place their plane crashed.

 

Bancroft, together with John McCormick and William G. Logan, the only two survivors from the other plane, were transferred to the hospital of Luneburg. When they were healthy enough to be put on transport, they were sent to the POW-camp in Oberursel.

When the Allies gained terrain and the front came closer, the POW-camps were evacuated.

First they were transported on trains, but Allied fighter pilots thinking that the box cars were used to transport German troops attacked them. The train was bombed and many allied POWs were killed. When they continued on foot, Bancroft had another close encounter with death. Once again, Allied fighter pilots mistook the marching POWs for German troops and attacked them. During one of the strafings, William Logan, who was walking just next to Bancroft, was killed by one of the fighter planes that used to protect him during his missions.

After the war, the remains of the men of Powell's crew were repatriated to the US and buried in their hometowns. Only Powell and Phelps are interred in Belgium where they rest at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Neupré, close to Liege.

Bancroft would die in 1992. He never fully recovered from the injuries sustained in 1945.

Perry Powell

Perry's grave at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium.

Bruce's grave at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial

10 months old

 5 years old

Perry and his baby sister Carol

Perry, Drum Major

 of the Grand Island High School Band, 1937

High School graduation, 1938

1st Buzz Hair Cut

More information...

Nuthampstead air base (picture: http://398th.org)

A picture of the tent for the officers of Perry's crew (Perry Powell himself ofcourse, Bombardier Bruce Phelps, Navigator John K. "Jack"Hancock and Co-Pilot Samuel "Bugs" Walker).

In this picture from left to right: Powell, unknown, Walker, Phelps.

You can also see the bycicles they used for transportation in and around the base. In one of his letters to his parents, Perry writes that "Jack" and "Bugs" can't get used to using handbrakes and nosed over twice because they used the front brake instead of the rear brake.

Lt. Bob Welty (other crew) and Lt. Sam Walker.

The squadron insignia was painted on the door by Perry Powell.

Perry on his bunk inside the tent.

The upper part of the crew tent's door with Perry's paintwork.

Flight training, Perry in the plane.

Last portret of Ellen and Perry before he went overseas.

Perry Senior and Perry Junior.

Perry was born on July 22th, 1920. He graduates from Grand Island H.S. on June 3rd, 1938.

He starts working for his dad in the painting and decorating business. He also worked seasonally for the American crystal Sugar Co.

In 1939 he begins dating Ellen Chew, a classmate who is employed in the office of the American Crystal Sugar Co.

January 17, 1942, Perry and Ellen elope to Columbuse, Nebraska and are married in Methodist Church. There parents are aware of the plan, but the Sugar Company rule was that man and wife could not both work there. Each lived at their own home but they would sneak away in the weekends, keeping their marriage a secret for a while.

In 1942, Perry wants to be a pilot but he knows his math is weak so he checks out books from the library to study math, hoping he can pass the pilot tests.

He doesn't want to be drafted and enlists in the Army Air Corps. This is the begin of Perry's service time that will sadly end with his death on February 3, 1945 while on his 24th mission.

October 2, 1944

Dear Mom, Dad and Carol:

I got a gallon of paint today and put on two coats. It was really laquer but it looks pretty good.

It is white enough to make it lighter. I told the boys it was against my better teaching to put two coats on bare wood. It is all trimmed in red.

Major Glen Miller and his orchestra were here to give us an hour of wonderful music. It sure was a short hour. We were all itching to dance.

No mail today but that was to be expected after the load I got yesterday. Please send some cookies and/or candy but be sure and pack them good.

Lots of Love, Junior

February 2, 1945 (Perry's last letter before his dead on february 3rd)

Dear Mom, Dad and Carol:

I received a package from you today. You mailed it OCt, 4 to my old A.P.O. number. It must have come over in a row boat. This is some of the V mail that was in it. It had soap, cigarettes in a mail with it. Thanks Mom, even though it was ages old it was still welcome. This morning was terrible as far as weather gets and a few other things. This afternoon the clouds raised and the visibility was the best I have ever seen it over here. You could actually see for miles.

I got a V mail from Dolly written the 19th of Jan. I also received my pillow I ordered from Selfridges in London a couple of weeks ago. I am really getting my sack just the way I want it.

Lots of Love, Junior

Flight log 17 October 1944, the day of the crashlanding in Belgium.

In this log the crew is still listed as missing in action

3 February 1945

Some statements from eyewitnesses who were flying near Powell

Bruce Phelps

Perry was born on April 2, 1920. 

He went to the St John Memorial High School in Olathe, Kansas. Later on he went to the Emporia Kansas State Teachers College.

That's all the info I have found for now, I hope to add more in the future.

Other Crewmembers

 St John Memorial High School in Olathe, Kansas, 1936

Thomas L'estrange
Leroy K. Bayless
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