Lewis H UTLEY

Source : Jaap Vermeer MDE

Advertising agents

24 september 1941 New York City NEW YORK

Aviation Cadet Navigator Training Course, Harlingen

B-17 Fortress - type F-5-VE - s/n 42-5717 RD*F

Macr: 15472

 Mission: Underwater Base Attack St-Nazaire (44)

Shot by fighter and flak around 12:00

Takeoff 09h00 Thurleigh, Bedfordshire UK

Map of St James American Cemetery

Crew of 42-5717

Source : Jaap Vermeer MDE

Utley lewis h The_Brooklyn_Daily_Eagle_Fri__May_14__1943

Source : Jaap Vermeer MDE

Lewis H. UTLEY was born in 1919 in Queens, New York. He enlisted in New York City, New York on September 24, 1941.

His enlistment record states he had completed one year of college (unnamed), was employed as an advertising agent, and was single with no dependents.

Utley was trained as a navigator, and upon completion of this training, was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant and given further combat crew training on the B-17.

He was deployed to England and eventually assigned to the 423^rd Bomb Squadron of the 306^th Bomb Group, operating from Thurliegh, England.

The scheduled mission for the 306^th Bomb Group on February 16, 1943 called for a bombing strike om the submarine yards and docks at St. Naizare, France. The target was reached and bombed, then the bomber formation was attacked by a number of German fighters.

A head-on attack killed the pilot, and the co-pilot was unable to access the controls and take over. The radio operator was wounded and three gunners were killed.

A fourth gunner bailed out but died. The aircraft suffered an internal explosion which blew the nose of the aircraft off and ejected the bombardier.

The aircraft stalled, went into a tight spin and crashed near Ville de Dan in France.

Two crew members successfully evaded, and the wounded radio operator was captured. The remainig crew were all killed, either in the attack or the crash.

Lt UTLEY was recovered and eventually buried in the Brittany American Cemetery at St. James, France. He lies in Plot J, Row 8, Grave 15.

LtUTLEY  is remembered by a Memorial Plaque in France, and is also on a Memorial Plaque in Newburgh, New York honoring Orange County veterans.

Crew of  B-17 Fortress - type F-5-VE - s/n 42-5717 RD*F