Maj. John "Lucky" Luckadoo, B-17 pilot, 100th BG, 8th AF

[DavidIsby]

From Facebook -- 100th Bomb Group Foundation - "The Bloody Hundredth"
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We lost a great man this evening - Major John H. “Lucky” Luckadoo, who passed away at the age of 103.
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lucky joined the US Army Air Forces at the age of 19. He was part of the original cadre of the 100th Bomb Group that arrived in England in 1943, and he initially served as the co-pilot for Glenn Dye’s crew. Lucky flew numerous difficult combat missions, including the Bremen mission during “Black Week” on October 8, 1943. “I looked death in the face — and survived,” said Lucky. He later served as the Operations Officer for the 351st Bomb Squadron and then the 350th Bomb Squadron. Lucky flew his 25th and final combat mission with William DeSanders on February 13, 1944. “The relief and the realization that we’d been lucky enough to complete our tour, it was just indescribable, it was like lifting a heavy load off your shoulders, because psyching yourself up to get back in that airplane particularly after a rough dose was a difficult thing to do,” recalled Lucky.
Lucky returned home and resumed his life. He married his wife Barbara in 1946, and together they had one daughter. In his later years, Lucky served as an incredible standard bearer for his fellow veterans from the “Bloody Hundredth.” He was determined to help keep the legacy of their service alive and educate younger generations about what these men went through during WWII. Lucky returned to England for the last time in October 2023, and he laid a wreath at Thorpe Abbotts in honor of his fellow veterans. “I cannot possibly convey to you the feelings that I’m having, after being here 80 years ago on this day, at this spot,” said Lucky.
The 100th Bomb Group Foundation extends our sincere condolences to the Luckadoo family, and we are eternally grateful for all that John “Lucky” Luckadoo did in support of the Hundredth.