2Lt Lawrence R. Shannon and his crew arrived at the 458th Bomb Group on November 23, 1944, Thanksgiving Day, and were assigned to the 753rd Squadron.  Their first mission was flown on Christmas Day to bomb the marshalling yards in Pronsfeld, Germany.  Nine missions followed their first, spanning a 48-day career on combat operations. All of the crew's missions were flown to Germany.

On February 13, 1945, Shannon's crew took off around 12:30 in the afternoon for a practice mission.  They were flying ship #281, "A Dog's Life", formerly one of the original AZON ships to come to the 753rd Squadron back in May 1944.  They had flown this aircraft on two separate occasions to Germany and back without and serious problems.

Their luck, however was about to run out, as squadron records state: "During a practice mission on 13 February, A/C 44-40281, piloted by 2nd Lt. Lawrence R. Shannon, was approaching the base with a feathered engine when it lost altitude and crashed on Old Catton Road.  Because of the low altitude at the time of the crash and the explosion which followed immediately, there were no survivors."

F/O Norman W. Cameron, bombardier, was not on this practice mission.  Records show that he was removed from flying status on February 14th, the day after the crash.  He was placed back on flying status on February 18th.  He flew additional combat missions where needed as navigator or bombardier, a few possibly with the crew of 1Lt Robert C. Hadden as Cameron went on Air Crew Leave with them on February 25, 1945.

The Old Catton Website contains a fine tribute to Shannon's crew and the John McArthur crew from the 467th Bombardment Group (H), which was also in the same Combat Wing (96th) as the 458th. This crew also crashed on a training mission in Old Catton on January 22, 1945.

Ray Kendeigh, relative of Grant Ordiway, relates: Grant had a brother, Virgil Ordiway in the 101st Airborne.  He had been wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.  Virgil was recovering from his wounds in England and they had a chance to see each other before Grant was killed.

                                                                                              Misslion list compiled from 458th group records

"We were scheduled that A.M. to bomb Helgoland, a little island fortress in the North Sea.  No mission credit although they had anti-aircraft guns and put up a lot of flak.  Gruner and I often traded jobs - he liked to bomb.  On a previous mission I had bumped my nose on a turret gun and was having trouble clearing my ears.  When they said it was a practice mission I goofed off and went on sick call.  When I came out of the hospital I seen the ship go down, I didn't realize it was my crew until a little later.  I flew my missions after that as a navigator or bombardier as needed.  The crew had told me they were going to put my name on the flight book, I found out they didn't.  I was sent to the "Flak House" after that accident for about three weeks, then I was on flying as a replacement where needed."

"A Dog's Life" an original AZON ship

Photo courtesy: George Reynolds

At approximately 1246 hours on 13 February 1945, B-24-J, No. 44-40281 crashed about one mile South East of Station 123.  Ship had just taken off on a practice mission, with a crew of nine (9) and 2,700 gallons of gasoline.

Pilot contacted tower shortly after take-off reporting a runaway prop, ship was cleared to land immediately, but crashed before landing could be accomplished.

No evidence could be obtained from the crash as the ship was completely destroyed by fire.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  That all B-24 Pilots be reminded of the necessity of their meeting satisfactory Emergency Procedure Requirements, especially the danger of turning into a dead engine.

Signed,

James H. Isbell
Colonel
President

James A. Hogg
Lt Col, AC

Roland H. Rue
Major, AC

On our way to town Tuesday M/Sgt's Goodroe, Carlisle, Seyler, and T/Sgt Metts and myself noticed a J-4 [753rd Sqdn] airplane with #2 engine feathered.  At this time the airplane was flying at about 700 feet parallel with runway 23.  We were on Fifers Lane and he passed directly over us.  He continued to fly south for about a mile and then started turning to the left.  He was skidding rather then [sic] banking it, however, the left wing would drop and he would bring it back up.  He still didn't seem to be in trouble and had the airplane headed North East [sic] when the airplane went into a glide.  He was almost out of sight behind the trees when the left wing dropped verticle and he went in out of sight behind the trees.  After about ten seconds flames and black smoke came up.

Signed

MSgt Kirby F. Hayward
Line Chief
752nd Bomb Sq. (H)

Photo courtesy: Old Catton Website