Air Force Technical Sergeant Bernard R. Lucas
The B24 Liberator pictured above was the class of aircraft Bernard Lucas flew in World War II.
Let Us Remember
Air Force Technical Sergeant Bernard R. Lucas
Killed in Action World War II
Page by Bob Leathers
Click on the image for a larger view.
Technical Sergeant Bernard R. Lucas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lucas from Hanna, Carbon, Wyoming was attached to the 328th Bomber Squadron 93rd Bombardment Group. He was killed in action in the Middle East on August 1, 1943. He was 22 years, and 29 days old at the time of his death. Bernard's Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Ent, praised Bernard for his bravery in a mission over the Romanian oil fields, which resulted in his death. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The medals were awarded posthumously to him for extraordinary achievement while serving in aerial combat against the enemy.
Sergeant Lucas was born in Hanna, Wyoming and graduated in 1939 from Hanna High School. He worked for the Union Pacific Coal Company for a year in the No. 4 mine then enrolled in the University of Wyoming. In June 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. In May, 1943 he left for overseas duty.
Sergeant Lucas was born in Hanna, Wyoming and graduated in 1939 from Hanna High School. He worked for the Union Pacific Coal Company for a year in the No. 4 mine then enrolled in the University of Wyoming. In June 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. In May, 1943 he left for overseas duty.
The awards shown below were presented to Sgt. Bernard Lucas' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lucas, of Hanna, at a special ceremony on the parade ground of the Casper Army Base, March 11, 1944.
Attached to the photo below were the words, "The American people owe an unpayable debt to young men like Sergeant. Lucas, for their yesterdays make possible our tomorrow. Wherever Sgt. Lucas may lie, that plot of ground belongs now to America forever."
Attached to the photo below were the words, "The American people owe an unpayable debt to young men like Sergeant. Lucas, for their yesterdays make possible our tomorrow. Wherever Sgt. Lucas may lie, that plot of ground belongs now to America forever."
Sergeant Bernard Lucas' burial monument is located in Florence Italy. A memorial monument shown below is located in the Hanna, Wyoming Cemetery in plot 218.
Bernard Lucas was killed in action on August 1, 1943. The following is
a description of the mission his 93rd Bombardment Group was involved in on
August 1, 1943 the day he was shot down and killed. The description
is quoted from the 93rd Bonbardment Group Website.
a description of the mission his 93rd Bombardment Group was involved in on
August 1, 1943 the day he was shot down and killed. The description
is quoted from the 93rd Bonbardment Group Website.
"the most famous Liberator mission of the war, and possibly the most dangerous
mission ever flown by American bomber crews - the low-altitude mission against
the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania. Located in the foothills of the Transylvanian
Alps, Ploesti was the major source of petroleum products for Axis forces in the
Mediterranean. In the belief that a "knockout blow" against Ploesti would shorten the war
in Europe, the Allied leadership at the Casablanca Conference decided to attack
the refineries.
Col. Jacob Smart, a planner on the staff of Army Air Forces
commander General Henry H. Arnold, believed that a low-altitude attack would not
only allow pinpoint accuracy, it would also catch the defenders by surprise and
reduce casualties, which were expected to be very heavy. The plan called for the
93rd to be the second group in the lead formation, with the group split into two
forces. Force A was to hit the Concordia Refinery complex while Force B was to
hit the Standard Petrol and Unirea Sperantza blocks, which were labeled Targets
White Two and Three, respectively.
"Tidal Wave," as the mission was named, started to go wrong when German detection devices in the Alps picked up the ignition systems of the 178 Liberators as soon as they took off from their bases around Benghazi on Sunday, August 1, 1943. All Axis air defenses were alerted
that a major mission was underway. Though the Allies did not appreciate it's
magnitude, a massive defense system had been built up around the refineries,
making Ploesti possibly the most heavily defended target in the world. Dozens of
large caliber antiaircraft guns had been installed around the complex while
literally hundreds of smaller automatic weapons defended against attack by
low-flying aircraft. Barrage balloons were position around the refineries,
though the planners had anticipated that the wings of the low-flying B-24s would
cut their tethers. There were also several squadrons of German and Romanian
fighters based in the region, as well as in neighboring Bulgaria and other
countries along the route. The lead elements of the Tidal Wave force reached the vicinity of the
refineries before they were attacked. An unfortunate error by Col. K.K. Compton
led the formation into a turn short of the Initial Approach Point. The formation
of B-24s was headed for Bucharest, though Colonel Baker and other pilots and
navigators in the formation were aware of the error. Seeing the stacks of the
refinery through a veil of rain showers to his left, Colonel Baker led the 93rd
into a left turn to attack the refineries, even though they were out of position
for an attack on their assigned target. By this time enemy fighters had found
the formation and the Battle of Ploesti was underway. After breaking formation
with the errant 376th, Colonel Baker took the two forces of the 93rd down to
treetop altitudes. As they approached the refinery complex, the low-flying B-24s
encountered terrible ground fire. Since the targets for which they had been
briefed were on the other side of the city, the 93rd made for targets of
opportunity, which happened to be the targets that had been assigned to the 98th
and 44th groups, which had fallen behind the lead formation and lost all visual
contact with the airplanes that preceded them.
Airplane after airplane was hit by ground fire; crew members were killed and wounded and some airplanes were shot down, but the two elements of the 93rd group held their formation. Colonel Baker's airplane took numerous hits as it approached the refinery and caught
fire, but the 93rd group commander held his course and led Force A over the
target he had selected as the stricken bomber continued to take hit after hit.
Two miles from the bomb line Baker jettisoned his bombs in attempt to keep the
Liberator in the air. After crossing over the stacks, the airplane pitched over
on one wing and crashed in a wheat field. Baker and his copilot, Major John
Jerstad, would be awarded the Medal of Honor for leading their group over the
target in their burning airplane.
Of the thirty-nine 93rd B-24s that took off from Benghazi, thirty-four reached the target. Only fifteen came away from the target in formation and of those, only five escaped with little damage."
Bernard Lucas was one of those brave men that did not return from the mission.
For more information on Bernard Lucas and the 328th Bomber Squadron go to http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/historyfull.html
