• MORRISON, John, Pilot (Captain)
  • LESHER, Howard W, Co-Pilot
  • GARRITY, John P, Navigator Irishman from Boston
  • LANG, William E, Bombardier – INT 8 Apr 45 Ellis
  • FAULKNER, Ft/Eng / Top Turret
  • LAX, Fred, Radio/Op / Nose Gunner
  • KOPANSKI, Ted, Tail Gunner
  • HOCK, John H, Ball Gunner Big Swed from MINN
  • DELANO, Emmet, Radio/Op

LANG, William E, Bombardier

I’m the grandson of LANG, William E, Bombardier. He was in the 718th Squadron and listed on your website as part of the Morrison Crew. He flew on 23 combat missions with the 718th and his last mission was with Leighton Ellis’ crew in April of 1945, where their plane was hit and damaged. They managed to navigate to the Swiss border, where they bailed out over Lake Constance. They were taken by the Swiss and interned near Dubendorf, Swizerland for about 5 weeks until the crew’s release. My mother was named after that lake (Connie Lang). William (Bill) Lang passed away in Sept of 1985 at his home in Fullerton, Ca. He was a great man, and I’m glad to have known him. As a lot of servicemen, he rarely, if ever, spoke of his time in the military. I found I few of his records, and then found this website while searching for more information. Thank you for compiling so much information on your website and honoring these brave men.

Scott Loeschner
San Marcos, CA, USA

718th Squadron

718logoWilliam Nosker was the original C.O. from July ‘43 until April ‘44 when he was transferred to the 47th Wing Headquarters as Assistant Operations Officer. Nosker was killed when the 376th Bomb Group B-24 that he was aboard crashed on takeoff on 15 August ‘44. Rexford Tompkins, the original Operations Officer for the 718th, became the C.O. in April ‘44 and remained so until September ’44. Charles Jordan finished out the war as the 718th C. O. from September ‘44 through May ’45.

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