Jesse Cullison
 This photo shows Lt Jerry Cullison`s crew in 1944. He is top row right. Akso shown is Lt Roy Sutton, Co-Pilot next to lt Cullison,top row. Since we know that Lt Harvey L Lagasse,Jr, Bombardier, is top row extreme Left, that leaves Vaughn as Navigator. Does anyone know more about Vaughn?
Other crew men are: Kneeling, Gunners L to R: Ernest Gordon Liner; Paul Peterson; Anthony Lasping; A J Benletison; Harold Botwright and Tom Tomlinison Lt Cullision was the pilot in comand of the 758 BS B-24 " The Moron " that was shot down 8-22-44 on Mission # 95 to bomb Blechhammer Oil Refineries, GR and he became a POW along with most of his crew until liberated by Gen Patton` U S troops in April,1945. Sgt Liner, gunner on this crew, reported while he was a POW that he had heard thar one of his crew was KIA, 2 were wounded in Hungarian hospitals and that 3 of his officers were in POW camp near his in Germany in 1944.( See Ernest Liner`s story under 758 BS Servicemen)>
Story about the Flight Jerry Cullison Jr. was shot down on #3 We started flying with other crews to learn how to fly in formation. Experienced pilots flew with us for a few days and then we were on our own to fly every day. The weather permitting, we then started flying actual combat missions on August 12, 1944. Our flights were as follows:
Date..................Target.............................Plane..... August 12...Northern Italy, early return..."Hard to Get" August 14...Northern Italy, early return......"Hard to Get" August 17...Polesti, Romania, flack and fighters..."Beats Me Mack" August 18...Polesti, Romania, flack and fighters....."The Moron" August 21...Air field in Hungary, flack and fighters...Beats Me Mack" August 22...Blechammer, Germany, flack and fighters......The Moron" DID NOT RETURN
The targets in northern Italy were called "milk runs" because they were more like training missions but the Polesti targets were the worst in Europe for enemy flack and fighters. The Hungary targets were bad for fighters, but Blechammer was as bad as Polesti because we had to fight our way from the target until we had to parachute out of the plane. Before we got to the target we lost an engine due to flack (ground fire). We saw one plane blow up and two others take hits. On three engines, we could not keep up with the formation. After the bombs were dropped, we were attacked by four fighters and lost another engine as well as other damage. One fighter came toward the tail, another from the side, and yet another from the under side. I shot the plane attacking our tail and it exploded. The fighter on the side killed Tomlinson and the ball turret gunner was hit, giving the German fighters two positions not covered. The next attacks came from above, and top gunner Peterson and I both were shooting at him and he was hit and bailed out. Then, I realized we were going down fast and our radio was shot out. I got out of my turret and went up into the waist and put on my parachute. Top gunner Peterson came down into the waist with his parachute on, and I had to move waist gunner Tomlinson's body from the escape door so we could get out. I opened the hatch and motioned for Peterson to go out, but he motioned for me to go! I realized that we had to get out, so I jumped. Peterson told me later, when he saw my chute open, he jumped, too.
Story about the Flight Jerry Cullison Jr. was shot down on #3 We started flying with other crews to learn how to fly in formation. Experienced pilots flew with us for a few days and then we were on our own to fly every day. The weather permitting, we then started flying actual combat missions on August 12, 1944. Our flights were as follows:
Date..................Target.............................Plane..... August 12...Northern Italy, early return..."Hard to Get" August 14...Northern Italy, early return......"Hard to Get" August 17...Polesti, Romania, flack and fighters..."Beats Me Mack" August 18...Polesti, Romania, flack and fighters....."The Moron" August 21...Air field in Hungary, flack and fighters...Beats Me Mack" August 22...Blechammer, Germany, flack and fighters......The Moron" DID NOT RETURN
The targets in northern Italy were called "milk runs" because they were more like training missions but the Polesti targets were the worst in Europe for enemy flack and fighters. The Hungary targets were bad for fighters, but Blechammer was as bad as Polesti because we had to fight our way from the target until we had to parachute out of the plane. Before we got to the target we lost an engine due to flack (ground fire). We saw one plane blow up and two others take hits. On three engines, we could not keep up with the formation. After the bombs were dropped, we were attacked by four fighters and lost another engine as well as other damage. One fighter came toward the tail, another from the side, and yet another from the under side. I shot the plane attacking our tail and it exploded. The fighter on the side killed Tomlinson and the ball turret gunner was hit, giving the German fighters two positions not covered. The next attacks came from above, and top gunner Peterson and I both were shooting at him and he was hit and bailed out. Then, I realized we were going down fast and our radio was shot out. I got out of my turret and went up into the waist and put on my parachute. Top gunner Peterson came down into the waist with his parachute on, and I had to move waist gunner Tomlinson's body from the escape door so we could get out. I opened the hatch and motioned for Peterson to go out, but he motioned for me to go! I realized that we had to get out, so I jumped. Peterson told me later, when he saw my chute open, he jumped, too.
MACR: 10719
2nd Lt Jesse A Cullison was assigned to the 459th BG 758th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot.
The following information on Jesse Cullison is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on 2nd Lt Cullison. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Jesse Cullison's military record please contact us.
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Rank |
General Order |
Date |
Notes |
Award |
Ribbon & Device |
Jesse Cullison |
2nd Lt |
155 |
01/09/1945 |
MIA |
AM - MIA |
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