John E. Russell
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-885981
813th Bomber Squadron, 482nd Bomber Group, Pursuit


It is my understanding that John E. Russell of the U.S.A.A.F. flew operationally with 97 Squadron R.A.F. in 1943. Was this a common practise for American airman to be seconded to an R.A.F. station?

John Russell was K.I.A. Nov.10th 1943 but not with 97 Squadron.

Following are the squadrons orbs listing 2nd Lt's Russell and Wright were both of these American?

3/4 September 1943 - Berlin

ED875R 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, Sgts J.P.Dow, B.W.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Marston. Up 2034 Down 0441. 1 x 4000lb, 6 x 500lb. Berlin bombed. Clear sky, some haze. 20,000’. Target identified by red TIs and bend in river. Bombed cluster of red TIs – in bomb sight. Fires and explosions seen among red markers.

5/6 September 1943 - Mannheim

JA711Y 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, Sgts L.W.Golden, J.R.Dow, H.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Marston. Up 1944 Down 0229. 1 x 4000lb, 9 x 500lb. Mannheim attacked. No cloud, visibility good. 16,500’. River, bridges and built up area identified visually. Bombed built up area with red TIs in bomb sight. Fires starting up as aircraft left target.

6/7 September 1943 - Munich

ED870T 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Marston. Up 2001 Down 0440. 1 x 4000lb, 7 x 500lb. Target Munich attacked. 18,000’. 6/10ths cloud. Red and yellow TIs in bomb sight when bombs released. Aircraft early on target, thick cloud – nothing seen to report.

15/16 September 1943 – Montlucon

EE176O 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, Sgts J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Marston. Up 2114 Down 0220. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 4 x 1000lb, 3 x 500lb. Montlucon bombed. 5,000’. Moon light. 6/10ths broken cloud. Target identified by great column of black smoke and visually. Bombed on red TI – in bomb sight.

2/23 September 1943 - Hanover

ED953X 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, Sgts J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, R.H.Marston. Up 1903 Down 0006. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 6 x 1000lb. Target Hanover bombed. No cloud, no moon, visibility good. 17,500’. Target identified by green TI markers which we bombed. Six large fires burning – visible 150 miles away on return.

23/24 September 1943 - Darmstadt

EE179T 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, Sgts J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Martson. Up 1920 Down 0106. 1 x 4000lb, 158 incs. Target Darmstadt attacked. 16,000’. Clear sky, slight haze. Target identified visually. Centre of built up area and flares in bomb sight at time of bombing. Large explosion seen at 2134 hours. Fires taking good hold.

27/28 September 1943 – Hanover

EE197T 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgt H.J.Lazenby, 2nd Lt R.Wright, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, Sgts J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, R.H.Marston. Up 1943 Down 0049. 2 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 6 x 1000lb. Target Hanover attacked. 20,500’. No moon, no cloud, visibility good. Two green TI markers in bomb sight at time of bombing. Large orange explosion seen at 2210 hours. Some fires were burning.


2/3 October 1943 - Munich

EE179T 2nd Lt J.E.Russell, Sgts H.J.Lazenby, Saunders, F/Sgt L.W.Golden, J.P.Dow, E.W.Bark, F/Sgt R.H.Marston. Up 1905 Down 0231. 6 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 3 x 1000lb. Target Munich attacked. 17,500’. Clear sky, vis good. Centre of cluster of green TIs in bomb sight at time of bombing. Own TIs seen to cascade and ignite. Many fires burning and incendiaries rapidly as aircraft left target.