Lamb's crew did not have an assigned co-pilot, as they were a lead crew from the beginning of flying combat.  All of their missions in the 458th were flown either in t he deputy, group, or squadron lead.  After flying several missions with the 458th, Crew 20 was transferred to be a lead crew in the 389th Bomb Group on March 28, 1944.  Assigned to Crew 20 as co-pilot was 2Lt John Jircitano, originally on Crew 30.

Information from Tom Brittan:  On July 31, 1944 while leading the 453rd BG with Major Andrew S. Low, Jr., Group Operations Officer, as Command Pilot, Lamb's aircraft (41-28778 N YO) was hit by flak over the target, a Methanol processing building in I G Farben chemical works, Ludwigshafen, Germany.  The aircraft left the formation just after bombs away with #3 engine and the bomb bay on fire.  The crew bailed out except for waist gunner, S/Sgt Francis J. Morello who was fighting the fire in the bomb bay and the top turret gunner, S/Sgt Marshall A. Tharpe who had entered the bomb bay to help.  Apparently, Tharpe's parachute opened inside the plane, engulfed both men in flames and trapped them in the bomb bay.  The plane exploded in mid-air before crashing 3 kilometers north of Viernheim, Germany.  Eleven men bailed out and were taken prisoner.

The two other crew members on this aircraft were: 1Lt William B. Buchsbaum - navigator, and 1Lt Robert R. Popper - bombardier.

                                                                    Mission list compiled from 458th records

"Satan's Mate" flown by Crew 20 until a ground accident put her in for repair.  She was lost on July 11, 1944. (Photo: Harold Armstrong)