459th Bombardment Group Heavy

B-24 Liberators of World War II

459th Bombardment Group

756th Bomb Squadron

Awards and Decorations

Squadron Crew Photos{New}

Final Flyby

Robert Edward Schnell (April 3 1916- June 3 2007) - Born in Benwood,WV Bob enlisted in the navy from high school,serving on the battleship USS New York and studied at the Naval Academy 1936-37.He married Ileane Beatty August 19,1939 and was a West Virginia State Trooper from 1940 to 1942 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.After cadet and pilot training,he was assigned to the 459th BG and the 756th Bomb Squadron in the 15th Air Force, Italy.

Lt Bob Schnell`s B-24 was shot down on 459th BG Mission # 86, 8/7/44,target Blechhammer,Germany oil refinery.The 756th BS War Diary for August 7,1944 states that a German ME 109 fighter scored a direct hit on Lt Schnell`s B-24 rudder and a portion was knocked off.His plane was last sighted over Yugoslvia losing altitude and about to crash. Five parachutes were seen exiting the plane.

Other members of Lt Schnell`s crew were: Lts Meech,Colin and Kaden; Sgts Scholetize,Bachat and Crotty; and Cpls Brosky,Wojiechowski and Cheickering.

Bob was a P.O.W. in Stalag VII-A, 1 km north of Mooseburg,35 km northest of Munich, Germany in a flat area surrounded by hills.The camp barracks were rectangular wood building divided into A & B sections by a central room for washing and eating.POWs slept on triple-dek wooden bunks with gunny sack mattresses filled with excelsior. Gradually the number of men per barracks increased from 180 to 400. Men slept on tables, floors and on the floor. The barracks had no heat and were damp,cold and unhealthful

Bob was liberated on August 29,1945 by Combat Team A,14th U S Armored Division. He received the Purple Heart, Air Medal,POW Medal,European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 bronze stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Bob returned to the WV State Police,retiring in 1961 and retired for good in 1980.

Delbert Woffard - Former President of the 459th Bomb Group Association.

Joe Tin Lee - former gunner in the 759th Bomb Squadron, passed away 12/8/2001.

Former 2nd LT George Ostroot Jr. 759 th B S Navigator and 459th BGA Member No.512 passed away 2/16/07 at St Louis, MO. His story of being shot down 6/16/44 on 459 BG Mission No.60 and becoming a P O W will be listed under 759th BS Servicemen Stories.

Ludwig J. Phillips of the 756th BS/459th BG passed away on 12 February 2008 after a long illness.

2nd Lt Rex Goddard of the 757th BG was born on December 21, 1921. He completed 50 missions and received the DFC. Lt. Goodard passed away on February 12, 1995.

1st Lt George Bryant was a Co-Pilot on James Oogle's crew in the 759th BS.

S/Sgt Robert R. Dejongh was a member of the 758th BS. A memorial dedicated to him was discovered in Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. It is thought that S/Sgt Dejongh was MIA/KIA while executing M#80 July 24th, 1944 in Normandy, France.

Sgt John D Baker served with the 758th BS. It is unknown when he passed away, but he is listed on a memorial located in the Epinal Cemetery.

2nd Lt. Que D Jones was killed in action while serving with the 758th BS on April 28th, 1944. He was a Co-Pilot on Mission # 29, target Porto San Stefano Docks, Italy. Read more in the "Servicemen's Stories

2nd Lt. John Zimmer was killed in action by heavy flak while flying his aircraft in the 758th BS on April 28th, 1944. He was on Mission # 29, target Porto San Stefano docks, Italy. Read more in the "Servicemen's Stories"

Thomas W. Perry It is with great pride and much sorrow that I inform you that my Father, Thomas W. Perry passed away on June 17, 2008. He was assigned to the 459th Bomb Group, 758th Squadron and grearly enjoyed sharing his experiences at Giulia Field up to his final day on earth.

Thank you for your wonderful newletter "Pathfinder", we have greatly enjoyed reviewing past issues, especially the Fall 1997 piece on "Perry's Paupers".

He really got a kick out of it. Michael Perry 513 Foxgate Quarter Chesapeake VA 23322 757-410-1778 nckate2@aol.com

Mryl M. Graham 758th Squadron passed away Monday, July 14, 2008. He attended one of the reunions some years back in Boise, ID and thoroughly enjoyed meeting his "BTO" (Big Time Operators) flying buddies of the 758th Bomb Squadron.

S/Sgt. Harry Jobe Jones 757th Squadron passed away February 12, 2003. He entered the service November 21, 1942 and was discharged July 7, 1945.

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