SSGT USAAF WWII
ASN 33162827
447th BG, 711th B Sq
Tail gunner
He was the son of Harvey and Martha Penwell of Marietta, PA.
Jim Penwell was one of Marietta's most popular young athletes and excelled in baseball. He enlisted in the Army on 12 March 1942. He trained in Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.
He was killed on this his 23rd mission.
His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Sgt Jim Penwell received an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Purple Heart.
~~~~~
Many thanks to findagrave volunteer Joel Gilfert for adding the photo and for the high school information on Jim Penwell.
ASN 33162827
447th BG, 711th B Sq
Tail gunner
He was the son of Harvey and Martha Penwell of Marietta, PA.
Jim Penwell was one of Marietta's most popular young athletes and excelled in baseball. He enlisted in the Army on 12 March 1942. He trained in Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.
He was killed on this his 23rd mission.
His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Sgt Jim Penwell received an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Purple Heart.
~~~~~
Many thanks to findagrave volunteer Joel Gilfert for adding the photo and for the high school information on Jim Penwell.
SSGT USAAF WWII
ASN 33162827
447th BG, 711th B Sq
Tail gunner
He was the son of Harvey and Martha Penwell of Marietta, PA.
Jim Penwell was one of Marietta's most popular young athletes and excelled in baseball. He enlisted in the Army on 12 March 1942. He trained in Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.
He was killed on this his 23rd mission.
His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Sgt Jim Penwell received an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Purple Heart.
~~~~~
Many thanks to findagrave volunteer Joel Gilfert for adding the photo and for the high school information on Jim Penwell.
ASN 33162827
447th BG, 711th B Sq
Tail gunner
He was the son of Harvey and Martha Penwell of Marietta, PA.
Jim Penwell was one of Marietta's most popular young athletes and excelled in baseball. He enlisted in the Army on 12 March 1942. He trained in Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.
He was killed on this his 23rd mission.
His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Sgt Jim Penwell received an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Purple Heart.
~~~~~
Many thanks to findagrave volunteer Joel Gilfert for adding the photo and for the high school information on Jim Penwell.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
