Destiny's Child

401st Squadron

Lt. Van Ausdall's Crew

On a Slow Boat to China

Serial # 42-31812 LL-H

Back Row - Left to Right

Smolinski, Top Turret; S/Sgt. Richard H. Hamilton, Radio Operator; Sgt. Winton W. Blevins, Jr., Waist Gunner; Price; Sgt. Vernon Winters, Tail Gunner; Sgt. Anson M. Riley, Ball Turret Gunner.

Front Row - Left to Right

1st Lt. Charles E. Van Ausdall, Pilot; F/O Joseph F. Sammon, Co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Richard D. Loomis, Navigator; 2nd Lt. John R. Butler, Jr., Bombardier.

Photo contributed by Jack Gaffney

Destiny's Child Factoid - Its markings were LL-H. This aircraft was shot down on 20 July 1944 by German fighters near Leipzig. Destiny's Child was on stand by that day and not scheduled to fly. The aircraft was on its 53rd mission with no mechanical abortions. It had 44 plus missions on the original 4 engines.

On that fateful day, Destiny's Child had a crew of 9. Four were killed in action (KIA) and five became prisoners of war (POW). Sullivan/KIA (he replaced another crew member); Hamilton/POW; Blevins/POW; Price (did not go due to having guard duty); Winters/KIA; Riley/POW; Van Ausdall/KIA; Sammon/POW; Butler/POW.

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