Last flight of the 'Bolicat'
John Conway Kehoe, know by his close friends and family as "Conway," was born Jan. 24, 1922 at Bealeton, where he lived until enlisting as a cadet on Jan. 31, 1943. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at George Field, Illinois, the following November.
During aviation basic training, Conway became good friends with Norman Grant, of Minneapolis, Inn; Conway would complete his training as a bomber pilot, while Norman would become a navigator.
While on leave before starting combat training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, both young men went home and took care of matters of the heart. Conway married Ruth Wallace of Warrenton, and Norman took his sweetheart Margaret as his wife.
They returned to El Paso, where their crew became part of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Bomb Squadron. Soon afterward, they were transferred to an airbase at McCook, Nebraska, where the new couples set up housekeeping. By early spring, both wives were pregnant.
As they knew they would, the young officers received orders that they were being transferred to the 860th Bomb Squadron, and were headed for an airbase in Debach, Suffolk, England, and the war. It was at about that time that Conway learned that his brother Bill was missing in action in France. The crew left Nebraska for England in early May 1944, followed by their ground crews and support personnel.
Conway and Norman were assigned to the "Spirit of '76," a B-24 Liberator bomber based at Debach. Aircraft commander was lst Lt. George H.Washington, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
By June 6,1944, the 493rd was up-and-running, conducting a raid on Lisieux, France, during the D-Day invasion. From that point until the end of the month, they mounted a series of attacks on German positions behind the lines. The exhausting pace would continue all summer.
While on a bombing mission near Paris, the "Spirit of '76" was hit by German flak, and two of the aircraft's four engines were knocked out. Conway helped nurse the damaged plane back to the airbase in England, where they landed safely. For his actions as copilot, he was awarded the Air Medal.
The Washington crew was assigned a replacement aircraft, a B-24H (4 1-29473) nicknamed the "Bolicat." Early on the morning of Aug. 18, 1944, the "Bolicat" left the Debach airbase as part of Mission 49, an attack on the German airfield at Roye-Amy, France. It was the crew's 19th mission since arriving in Europe, and nine men were on board. Over the target, the "Bolicat" was hit by flak. The first blast killed Lt. Washington, and severely wounded nose gunner Sgt. John Doyle.
Conway took command ofthe aircraft, and after quickly assessing the damage, ordered the crew to bailout. Navigator Norman Grant was not injured, and helped the wounded gunner out of the nose turret. Together, they got Doyle into his parachute harness just as a second explosion - most likely another burst of flak - rocked the damaged bomber.
Lt. Grant left the plane through the nose wheel door, and as his parachute opened, he expected to see Sgt. Doyle and the rest of the surviving crew in the air around him. But he was alone.
Observers on board other bombers in the formation witnessed the incident, and reported that "Aircraft: 473 (the "Bolicat")was seen at 19,000 feet with No. 1 engine on fire, It was under control, continued diving and exploded when it hit the ground." The site of the crash was listed as near Boussicourt, France.
A second B-24H (42-94745) nicknamed "The Bold Sea Rover" and piloted by 1st Lt. James L. Glaze was also shotdown on Mission 49, with a loss of 11 lives. It crashed near Assainvillers, France.
Once on the ground, Lt. Grant was captured by the Germans. He expected to be reunited with some of his fellow crewmembers, but during a later interrogation at a prison in Brussels, he was told that the rest of his crew had perished.
The bodies of five men were found in the wreckage, and Sgt. Doyle's body recovered some distance from the aircraft. The bodies of two of the men onboard the "Bolicat" were never found.
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
John Conway Kehoe, know by his close friends and family as "Conway," was born Jan. 24, 1922 at Bealeton, where he lived until enlisting as a cadet on Jan. 31, 1943. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at George Field, Illinois, the following November.
During aviation basic training, Conway became good friends with Norman Grant, of Minneapolis, Inn; Conway would complete his training as a bomber pilot, while Norman would become a navigator.
While on leave before starting combat training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, both young men went home and took care of matters of the heart. Conway married Ruth Wallace of Warrenton, and Norman took his sweetheart Margaret as his wife.
They returned to El Paso, where their crew became part of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Bomb Squadron. Soon afterward, they were transferred to an airbase at McCook, Nebraska, where the new couples set up housekeeping. By early spring, both wives were pregnant.
As they knew they would, the young officers received orders that they were being transferred to the 860th Bomb Squadron, and were headed for an airbase in Debach, Suffolk, England, and the war. It was at about that time that Conway learned that his brother Bill was missing in action in France. The crew left Nebraska for England in early May 1944, followed by their ground crews and support personnel.
Conway and Norman were assigned to the "Spirit of '76," a B-24 Liberator bomber based at Debach. Aircraft commander was lst Lt. George H.Washington, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
By June 6,1944, the 493rd was up-and-running, conducting a raid on Lisieux, France, during the D-Day invasion. From that point until the end of the month, they mounted a series of attacks on German positions behind the lines. The exhausting pace would continue all summer.
While on a bombing mission near Paris, the "Spirit of '76" was hit by German flak, and two of the aircraft's four engines were knocked out. Conway helped nurse the damaged plane back to the airbase in England, where they landed safely. For his actions as copilot, he was awarded the Air Medal.
The Washington crew was assigned a replacement aircraft, a B-24H (4 1-29473) nicknamed the "Bolicat." Early on the morning of Aug. 18, 1944, the "Bolicat" left the Debach airbase as part of Mission 49, an attack on the German airfield at Roye-Amy, France. It was the crew's 19th mission since arriving in Europe, and nine men were on board. Over the target, the "Bolicat" was hit by flak. The first blast killed Lt. Washington, and severely wounded nose gunner Sgt. John Doyle.
Conway took command ofthe aircraft, and after quickly assessing the damage, ordered the crew to bailout. Navigator Norman Grant was not injured, and helped the wounded gunner out of the nose turret. Together, they got Doyle into his parachute harness just as a second explosion - most likely another burst of flak - rocked the damaged bomber.
Lt. Grant left the plane through the nose wheel door, and as his parachute opened, he expected to see Sgt. Doyle and the rest of the surviving crew in the air around him. But he was alone.
Observers on board other bombers in the formation witnessed the incident, and reported that "Aircraft: 473 (the "Bolicat")was seen at 19,000 feet with No. 1 engine on fire, It was under control, continued diving and exploded when it hit the ground." The site of the crash was listed as near Boussicourt, France.
A second B-24H (42-94745) nicknamed "The Bold Sea Rover" and piloted by 1st Lt. James L. Glaze was also shotdown on Mission 49, with a loss of 11 lives. It crashed near Assainvillers, France.
Once on the ground, Lt. Grant was captured by the Germans. He expected to be reunited with some of his fellow crewmembers, but during a later interrogation at a prison in Brussels, he was told that the rest of his crew had perished.
The bodies of five men were found in the wreckage, and Sgt. Doyle's body recovered some distance from the aircraft. The bodies of two of the men onboard the "Bolicat" were never found.
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
Last flight of the 'Bolicat'
John Conway Kehoe, know by his close friends and family as "Conway," was born Jan. 24, 1922 at Bealeton, where he lived until enlisting as a cadet on Jan. 31, 1943. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at George Field, Illinois, the following November.
During aviation basic training, Conway became good friends with Norman Grant, of Minneapolis, Inn; Conway would complete his training as a bomber pilot, while Norman would become a navigator.
While on leave before starting combat training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, both young men went home and took care of matters of the heart. Conway married Ruth Wallace of Warrenton, and Norman took his sweetheart Margaret as his wife.
They returned to El Paso, where their crew became part of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Bomb Squadron. Soon afterward, they were transferred to an airbase at McCook, Nebraska, where the new couples set up housekeeping. By early spring, both wives were pregnant.
As they knew they would, the young officers received orders that they were being transferred to the 860th Bomb Squadron, and were headed for an airbase in Debach, Suffolk, England, and the war. It was at about that time that Conway learned that his brother Bill was missing in action in France. The crew left Nebraska for England in early May 1944, followed by their ground crews and support personnel.
Conway and Norman were assigned to the "Spirit of '76," a B-24 Liberator bomber based at Debach. Aircraft commander was lst Lt. George H.Washington, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
By June 6,1944, the 493rd was up-and-running, conducting a raid on Lisieux, France, during the D-Day invasion. From that point until the end of the month, they mounted a series of attacks on German positions behind the lines. The exhausting pace would continue all summer.
While on a bombing mission near Paris, the "Spirit of '76" was hit by German flak, and two of the aircraft's four engines were knocked out. Conway helped nurse the damaged plane back to the airbase in England, where they landed safely. For his actions as copilot, he was awarded the Air Medal.
The Washington crew was assigned a replacement aircraft, a B-24H (4 1-29473) nicknamed the "Bolicat." Early on the morning of Aug. 18, 1944, the "Bolicat" left the Debach airbase as part of Mission 49, an attack on the German airfield at Roye-Amy, France. It was the crew's 19th mission since arriving in Europe, and nine men were on board. Over the target, the "Bolicat" was hit by flak. The first blast killed Lt. Washington, and severely wounded nose gunner Sgt. John Doyle.
Conway took command ofthe aircraft, and after quickly assessing the damage, ordered the crew to bailout. Navigator Norman Grant was not injured, and helped the wounded gunner out of the nose turret. Together, they got Doyle into his parachute harness just as a second explosion - most likely another burst of flak - rocked the damaged bomber.
Lt. Grant left the plane through the nose wheel door, and as his parachute opened, he expected to see Sgt. Doyle and the rest of the surviving crew in the air around him. But he was alone.
Observers on board other bombers in the formation witnessed the incident, and reported that "Aircraft: 473 (the "Bolicat")was seen at 19,000 feet with No. 1 engine on fire, It was under control, continued diving and exploded when it hit the ground." The site of the crash was listed as near Boussicourt, France.
A second B-24H (42-94745) nicknamed "The Bold Sea Rover" and piloted by 1st Lt. James L. Glaze was also shotdown on Mission 49, with a loss of 11 lives. It crashed near Assainvillers, France.
Once on the ground, Lt. Grant was captured by the Germans. He expected to be reunited with some of his fellow crewmembers, but during a later interrogation at a prison in Brussels, he was told that the rest of his crew had perished.
The bodies of five men were found in the wreckage, and Sgt. Doyle's body recovered some distance from the aircraft. The bodies of two of the men onboard the "Bolicat" were never found.
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
John Conway Kehoe, know by his close friends and family as "Conway," was born Jan. 24, 1922 at Bealeton, where he lived until enlisting as a cadet on Jan. 31, 1943. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant at George Field, Illinois, the following November.
During aviation basic training, Conway became good friends with Norman Grant, of Minneapolis, Inn; Conway would complete his training as a bomber pilot, while Norman would become a navigator.
While on leave before starting combat training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, both young men went home and took care of matters of the heart. Conway married Ruth Wallace of Warrenton, and Norman took his sweetheart Margaret as his wife.
They returned to El Paso, where their crew became part of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Bomb Squadron. Soon afterward, they were transferred to an airbase at McCook, Nebraska, where the new couples set up housekeeping. By early spring, both wives were pregnant.
As they knew they would, the young officers received orders that they were being transferred to the 860th Bomb Squadron, and were headed for an airbase in Debach, Suffolk, England, and the war. It was at about that time that Conway learned that his brother Bill was missing in action in France. The crew left Nebraska for England in early May 1944, followed by their ground crews and support personnel.
Conway and Norman were assigned to the "Spirit of '76," a B-24 Liberator bomber based at Debach. Aircraft commander was lst Lt. George H.Washington, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
By June 6,1944, the 493rd was up-and-running, conducting a raid on Lisieux, France, during the D-Day invasion. From that point until the end of the month, they mounted a series of attacks on German positions behind the lines. The exhausting pace would continue all summer.
While on a bombing mission near Paris, the "Spirit of '76" was hit by German flak, and two of the aircraft's four engines were knocked out. Conway helped nurse the damaged plane back to the airbase in England, where they landed safely. For his actions as copilot, he was awarded the Air Medal.
The Washington crew was assigned a replacement aircraft, a B-24H (4 1-29473) nicknamed the "Bolicat." Early on the morning of Aug. 18, 1944, the "Bolicat" left the Debach airbase as part of Mission 49, an attack on the German airfield at Roye-Amy, France. It was the crew's 19th mission since arriving in Europe, and nine men were on board. Over the target, the "Bolicat" was hit by flak. The first blast killed Lt. Washington, and severely wounded nose gunner Sgt. John Doyle.
Conway took command ofthe aircraft, and after quickly assessing the damage, ordered the crew to bailout. Navigator Norman Grant was not injured, and helped the wounded gunner out of the nose turret. Together, they got Doyle into his parachute harness just as a second explosion - most likely another burst of flak - rocked the damaged bomber.
Lt. Grant left the plane through the nose wheel door, and as his parachute opened, he expected to see Sgt. Doyle and the rest of the surviving crew in the air around him. But he was alone.
Observers on board other bombers in the formation witnessed the incident, and reported that "Aircraft: 473 (the "Bolicat")was seen at 19,000 feet with No. 1 engine on fire, It was under control, continued diving and exploded when it hit the ground." The site of the crash was listed as near Boussicourt, France.
A second B-24H (42-94745) nicknamed "The Bold Sea Rover" and piloted by 1st Lt. James L. Glaze was also shotdown on Mission 49, with a loss of 11 lives. It crashed near Assainvillers, France.
Once on the ground, Lt. Grant was captured by the Germans. He expected to be reunited with some of his fellow crewmembers, but during a later interrogation at a prison in Brussels, he was told that the rest of his crew had perished.
The bodies of five men were found in the wreckage, and Sgt. Doyle's body recovered some distance from the aircraft. The bodies of two of the men onboard the "Bolicat" were never found.
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
Inscription
2D Lieutenant 860 AAF Bomb SQ, killed in action
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
