GUNNER
ON B-29 LOSTIN ACTION
Lawrence Toeppe, 22, Of Millersville, Missing Since
May 29
Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence Toeppe, of Millersville, have
received a War department telegram that their eldest
son, Staff Sgt. Lawrence J. Toeppe, Jr., 22, is
missing In action. Toeppe is a gunner on a B-29
and presumed to be lost in a raid on Japanese territory.
He has been operating over Tokyo and other important
targets.
The
War department notice said he had been missing since
May 29.
Mr.
and Mrs. Toeppe have received word from parents
of some, of the crew who survived after their plane
was shot down informing them that four of the crew
were killed. Mr. Toeppe said Wednesday that since
they have had no word from their son since before
that date they were certain he was one of the four
lost.
S/Sgt.
Toeppe enlisted In the Army Air corps In October
1942, graduating as an aerial gunner in December
of that year. He was chosen as an Instructor and
remained at flexible gunnery school at Fort Myers,
Fla., until December, 1943, when he was sent to
Salina, Kas., to Instruct men for gunners on B-29
Superfortresses.
Due
to weather conditions in Kansas this last winter
a class was taken to Cuba to finish training. While
there be volunteered to replace a gunner who had
become ill of asthma. He was a gunner on the commanding
officer's plane of the 39th bombing group. He left
for combat Easter Sunday.
Toeppe
had written his parents twice that his plane had
been struck by Jap bullets, but was always able
to get back to its base. His last letter related
a night raid over Tokyo and in this letter he informed
his parents that he had just received the Air Medal
and Presidential Citation.
The
sergeant was employed by the J. K. Baker Co. before
entering service. Mr. and Mrs. Toeppe have two other
sons in service. Pvt, Donald is in the Eighth Marine
division. They were unaware of his whereabouts until
it was announced last week that the Eighth was moving
into Okinawa to reinforce the Tenth army. His unit
was at the observation post where General Buckner
was killed last week. The other son is Victor, seaman
first class, stationed at the Naval air station,
Glenview, Ill.
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