Johnnie Lamon Womble

Notes

Born in Grady County, Georgia. Son of Grady County Commissioner and Mrs. Walter E. Womble. Johnnie graduated from Whigham High School with the Class of 1940. Attended Freeman Business School, Albany, Georgia and enlisted with the US Army Air Force August 16, 1942. Assigned as a Staff Sergeant, ball turret gunner to the Flying Fortress serial #42-31034 the "Bonnie Donnie" piloted by 1st LT George E. West. It was attached to the 612nd Bombardment Squadron, 401st Bombardment Group operation from Deenethorpe, England. Air offensive Europe Missions; December 30, 1943 - Ludwigshafen, January 4, 1944-Caen, February 11, 1944-Frankfurt, February 20, 1944-Leipzig, February 21, 1944-Lippstadt, February 25, 1944-Augsburg, March 6, 1944-Berlin and Templin, March 11 1944-Munster, March 18 1944-Landsberg am Lech, April 10 1944-Brussels, April 18 1944-Wittenberg, April 19 1944-Kassel,April 20 1944-Bois Coquerel, April 22 1944-Hamm, April 24 1944-Erding, April 25 1944-Nancy-Essey, April 29 1944-Berlin, May 4 1944-Alkma, May 7 1944-Berlin, May 9 1944-Luxembourg, May 12 1944-Merseburg, May 13 1944-Szczecin, May 23 1944-Bayon, May 24 1944-Berlin, May 27, 1944, Ludwigshafen, May 28 1944-Dessau. The "Bonnie Donnie" on March 4, 1944, after a mission to Cologne, Germany. Once back over England the crew found they could only lower one wheel. The pilot, Lt Don Currie, ordered the ball turret jettisoned and made a perfect wheels up landing. No injuries were reported. The aircraft was repaired and returned to action. The "Bonnie Donnie" was on it's 28th mission on route to bomb an oil refinery near Dessau, Germany. This was the roughest mission of the 401st Bombardment Group's tour in the European Theater of Operation. The Group furnished the Low Box of the 94th Combat wing and was chosen as the focus of attack of approximately 200 enemy fighters. The attacks lasted for 40 minutes, from the I.P. through two runs at the target. As many as 60 enemy aircraft attacked in formation, using saturation tactics. As a result all of the High Squadron but the Lead Aircraft were shot down. A total of six Group aircraft were lost in the target area while another was forced to ditch in the English Channel. The crews and aircraft lost included LT V. J. Kaminski, flying with LT Ferdyn's crew (42-97073) LT George E. West (42-31034 "Bonnie Donnie"), LT Walter and LT Frederick H. Windham (42 -102647 "BTO in the European Theater of Operations"), Captain G. F. Carter and his crew ditched in the Channel (42-39837 "Red Rogues"). Not withstanding the ferocious enemy attacks, the Groups bombs fell in an excellent pattern on the MPI and dense smoke was observed over the target. Results of the crash of the Flying Fortress "Bonnie Donnie"; Pilot 1st LT George E. West and left waist gunner S/Sergeant Hugh D. Russell did not leave the aircraft and were listed as killed in action. Tail gunner S/Sergeant Michael Lefkin bailed out but his parachute never opened, listed as killed in action. Copilot 1st Lt Donald H. McKinnon, navigator 1st Lt LLoyd A. Nutter, bombardier 1st LT Thomas B. Montgomery, radio operator T/Sergeant Robert L. Andrus, Right waist gunner S/Sergeant Alfred J. Morini, engineer/top turret gunner T/Sergeant Francis I. Russell and ball turret gunner S/Sergeant Johnnie L. Womble bailed out and were taken prisoner. Johnnie received the following Decorations and Citations; Purple Heart, Air Crew members Badge, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze star, World War II Victory Medal. Johnnie was given a war bond by Louie Hughes of the Triangle for being the first from Grady County to enter Berlin. (Air Mission Berlin, May 4, 1944. Note Louie Hughes gave a war bond to Sergeant Julius Jones Newberry USMC for being the first from Grady County to kill a Japanese,(Guadalcanal August 1942). Louie awarded a war bond for the first to enter Tokyo to LT Colonel Homer Little Allen USAAC. Johnnie was imprisoned Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow, moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust. Liberated by US Forces June 30, 1945. Discharged October 16, 1945, Moved to Thomasville and retired from the Georgia Department of Labor after 30 years of service. Burial; Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia.