| webmaster@danielsww2.com |
| For additional information related to the 458th Bomb Group, click on the B-24 tail rudder to the left and visit a terrific site dedicated to this courageous group of aviators and airmen. www.458bg.com |
| Lawrence F. Menz and the 458th Bomb Group (H) |
The C.E. Daniel Collection
Crew 17 while Stateside (L-R)
Back Row: Rene Neirynck, Edward Eichorn, Lawrence Menz,
John Hejl, Verdon Cox
Front Row: Fred Smith, Asby Paul, Joseph Myer, Franklin
Reavis, Donald Day
Back Row: Rene Neirynck, Edward Eichorn, Lawrence Menz,
John Hejl, Verdon Cox
Front Row: Fred Smith, Asby Paul, Joseph Myer, Franklin
Reavis, Donald Day
Back Row: Edward Eichorn - B, Lawrence Menz - P,
John Hejl - CP, Joseph Meyer - E.
Middle Row: Asby Paul - RO, Donald Day - TG, Rene
Neirynck - TTG
Front Row: Fred Smith - BTG, Franklin Reavis - BTG
John Hejl - CP, Joseph Meyer - E.
Middle Row: Asby Paul - RO, Donald Day - TG, Rene
Neirynck - TTG
Front Row: Fred Smith - BTG, Franklin Reavis - BTG
Left: A photograph of bombardier Nicholas "Nick" F. Flynn
of Boston, Mass. Flynn served as Menz' bombardier when the
two men were training together at Tonopah, in crew #410.
The reverse of the photograph identifies Mr. Flynn, providing
his home address in Boston. The photograph is dated May 17,
1945.
of Boston, Mass. Flynn served as Menz' bombardier when the
two men were training together at Tonopah, in crew #410.
The reverse of the photograph identifies Mr. Flynn, providing
his home address in Boston. The photograph is dated May 17,
1945.
August 2009. A recent addition to my collection was a large grouping of
items related to Army Air Corps pilot, 1st Lt. Lawrence F. Menz.
Lawrence Menz was born on May 18, 1921. With his home town listed as
Kennett, Missouri, Menz stood 5'8 1/2'' tall and weighed 170 pounds when
he entered the service, with brown hair and blue eyes. His civilian work
history showed him employed by the Maloney Electric Company in St. Louis,
Missouri, with his trade being that of a transformer assembler. His salary
while working for the Maloney Electric Company was $125.00 a month.
This page was put together to display some of the many items from the Menz
grouping, which now resides in my permanent collection. The page is
dedicated to 1st Lt. Menz and the men he served with, specifically those of
the 458th Bomb Group and more specifically, "Crew 17."
Please feel free to contact me with any comments, corrections or questions.
items related to Army Air Corps pilot, 1st Lt. Lawrence F. Menz.
Lawrence Menz was born on May 18, 1921. With his home town listed as
Kennett, Missouri, Menz stood 5'8 1/2'' tall and weighed 170 pounds when
he entered the service, with brown hair and blue eyes. His civilian work
history showed him employed by the Maloney Electric Company in St. Louis,
Missouri, with his trade being that of a transformer assembler. His salary
while working for the Maloney Electric Company was $125.00 a month.
This page was put together to display some of the many items from the Menz
grouping, which now resides in my permanent collection. The page is
dedicated to 1st Lt. Menz and the men he served with, specifically those of
the 458th Bomb Group and more specifically, "Crew 17."
Please feel free to contact me with any comments, corrections or questions.
Paperwork, Paperwork and more Paperwork!
Lt. Menz grouping included a stack of paperwork containing over 300 pages of wartime documents relating to his overall
military service during WWII including: training documents, orders, his last will and testament, medical records, flight
logs, promotion records and identification and qualification cards. Below is a very small example of some of the
paperwork items found in Lt. Menz' grouping. The paperwork covers a time period from 1942 to late 1945. The
paperwork shown below provides a terrific glimpse into the life of an Army Air Corps pilot and the paperwork items they
encountered during their career.
military service during WWII including: training documents, orders, his last will and testament, medical records, flight
logs, promotion records and identification and qualification cards. Below is a very small example of some of the
paperwork items found in Lt. Menz' grouping. The paperwork covers a time period from 1942 to late 1945. The
paperwork shown below provides a terrific glimpse into the life of an Army Air Corps pilot and the paperwork items they
encountered during their career.
Lawrence Menz and the 458th Bomb Group - stateside training prior to overseas deployment.
Left: An Army Air Corps sweater with a
leather name tag showing the name of L.F.
Menz, acts as the background for Menz' Army
Air Corps identification wallet which
contained his Army Air Corps identification
card and his Pilot and Crew Member Physical
Record Card.
leather name tag showing the name of L.F.
Menz, acts as the background for Menz' Army
Air Corps identification wallet which
contained his Army Air Corps identification
card and his Pilot and Crew Member Physical
Record Card.
Of interest among the paperwork items shown above is the Air Corps Reserve document on the lower right corner, which
bears the signature of Colonel John C. Horton, who ultimately retired as a Brigadier General.
bears the signature of Colonel John C. Horton, who ultimately retired as a Brigadier General.
| Preflight School: Santa Ana Army Air Base Completed: August/1942 Primary Flight Training: Rankin Academy, Tulare, California Completed: October/1942 Basic Flying School: Merced AFS Completed: December/1942 Advanced Flight Training: Luke Field, Arizona Completed: February/1943 Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics: Orlando, Florida Completed: May/1943 Transition Flight Training: Roswell Army Air Field Completed: August/1943 |
Throughout his training and military career, Menz flew a variety of aircraft. Some of the aircraft types flown by
Menz include: B-32 Dominator, B-24 Liberators (various models), B-25 Mitchell (various models), B-17 Fortress
(various models), AT-6 Texan, BT-13 Valiant, AT-9 Fledgling, and the A-20 Havoc. The vast majority of Menz'
flight time was spent in various models of the B-25 and the B-24.
Menz include: B-32 Dominator, B-24 Liberators (various models), B-25 Mitchell (various models), B-17 Fortress
(various models), AT-6 Texan, BT-13 Valiant, AT-9 Fledgling, and the A-20 Havoc. The vast majority of Menz'
flight time was spent in various models of the B-25 and the B-24.
Menz spent his time at Tonopah training with "Crew 17", in preparation for overseas deployment. A fantastic website
dedicated to the 458th Bomb Group (www.458bg.com) has the following information related to Menz:
"According to gunner Rene Neirynck, "The last part of our training at Tonopah was for the gunners to shoot at a sleeve
target. During our turn to shoot, the tow plane broke down so we missed the training. Lt. Menz refused to go into
combat without that training and was taken off Crew 17." Menz was eventually replaced by 1st Lt Millard P. Schaaf
who took over as the lead pilot for the Menz crew, eventually leading the crew into combat operations.
To learn more about "Crew 17" and the 458th Bomb Group, click on the following link:
www.458bg.com/crew17schaaf.htm.
On December 29, 1943, Menz was assigned to the 470th Bomb Group (H) at Mt. Home, Idaho. NO specific reason was
given for the transfer from the 458th Bomb Group to the 470th Bomb Group. From all of the included paperwork, it
appears Menz never entered into combat, and instead remained stationed in the United States, acting as a ferry pilot
for various types of aircraft until the end of the war.
dedicated to the 458th Bomb Group (www.458bg.com) has the following information related to Menz:
"According to gunner Rene Neirynck, "The last part of our training at Tonopah was for the gunners to shoot at a sleeve
target. During our turn to shoot, the tow plane broke down so we missed the training. Lt. Menz refused to go into
combat without that training and was taken off Crew 17." Menz was eventually replaced by 1st Lt Millard P. Schaaf
who took over as the lead pilot for the Menz crew, eventually leading the crew into combat operations.
To learn more about "Crew 17" and the 458th Bomb Group, click on the following link:
www.458bg.com/crew17schaaf.htm.
On December 29, 1943, Menz was assigned to the 470th Bomb Group (H) at Mt. Home, Idaho. NO specific reason was
given for the transfer from the 458th Bomb Group to the 470th Bomb Group. From all of the included paperwork, it
appears Menz never entered into combat, and instead remained stationed in the United States, acting as a ferry pilot
for various types of aircraft until the end of the war.
| A special thank you to Darin Scorza for his help and assistance in putting this page together. If anyone has any additional information concerning 1st Lt. Menz, please feel free to contact me at: webmaster@danielsww2.com. |
Menz was ordered to report to the Army Air Corps Cadet Training Detachment at Sikeston, Missouri on
April 17, 1942. His apparent desire, like that of many young men during the war, to become an Army Air
Corps pilot. On May 24, 1942, Menz was assigned to aviation cadet training as a private.
His Army Air Corps Air Crew Data card provides us with a good overview of his military career and
training:
April 17, 1942. His apparent desire, like that of many young men during the war, to become an Army Air
Corps pilot. On May 24, 1942, Menz was assigned to aviation cadet training as a private.
His Army Air Corps Air Crew Data card provides us with a good overview of his military career and
training:
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