Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-10-VE: 42-39958 to 42-40057 |
| Delievered: | Long Beach |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 339th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | QJ-A |
| MACR: | 3430 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (08 March 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-39988 / Lace’s Aces aka The Iron Ass
Delivered Long Beach 27/10/43; ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 4/12/43; MIA Berlin 8/3/44 Pilot: George Pond, Co-Pilot: John Day, Navigator: Glenn Johnson, Bombardier: George Peters, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Morris Ring, Radio Operator: Fitzhugh Warren, Ball Turret Gunner: Bob Wilkins, Waist Gunner: Dallas Farris, Waist Gunner: Rowen Pollock, Tail Gunner: Carl Vandewalker (10POW) (See crew list below); Enemy aircraft KO’d three engines, crashed Behnsdorf (?), seven miles NE of Helmstedt, Germany (Also Berlin given as crash location in other source.). MACR 3430. LACE’S ACES aka THE IRON ASS.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-39988 / Lace’s Aces aka The Iron Ass Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | George Knight Pond | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | John Thomas Day | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Glenn Andrew Johnson | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | George F. Peters | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Morris Shearl Ring | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Fitzhugh Lee Warren | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Robert Carlton Elkins | POW | Wilkins? |
| WG | S/SGT | Dallas Estel Farris | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Owen Karl Rollack | POW | Pollack or Bollack? |
| TG | S/SGT | Carl William Van De Walker | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 05 April 2026
05. May 2023 access_time 18:28
My grandfather was George Pond, the pilot, he was lead plane in the formation on a run to Berlin when they were shot down. He managed to land the plane and he was captured with his crew and sent to Stalag Luft I for the remainder of the war.
This was not his normal plane, but one he was using because his own plane had been damaged on a previous mission. He originally flew the Bad Penney.
16. September 2023 access_time 19:33
My father was the Tail Gunner Carl VanDeWalker. I remember him always talking about George Pond.
14. December 2024 access_time 0:55
Owen Pollock retired from the Sandusky Ohio Police Department. Would anyone happen to have any photos of the plane or nose art? We would love to find a way to honor him. An old Vietnam vet and retired officer called Owen his hero.