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Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 7:54 pm
by SeekingUncleGeorge44
Hi,
We have recently begun searching for info regarding my uncle, 2nd Lt. George Q. Lockwood, Jr of, we believe, the 89th Bombardment Squadron. My dad named my brother in his honor, and now there is a George IV. All we were told is that he was shot down somewhere near New Zealand. Wondering if anyone remembers him, or has any information about what happened. We've seen a tiny photo of him perched atop an A-20 in the book, Minimum Altitude. I think I was told as a kid that he was a pilot. We're not really sure. Any info or direction would be greatly appreciated. On his cemetery marker, his death date is engraved as June 29, 1944. We'd love to know where he was, what his last months were like. Thanks, Matt and Mary

Re: Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 10:36 am
by RSwank
George Q Lockwood, Jr does show on the roster for the 89th BS in the 3rd BG, so that was his unit. Looking for any other information about him in the 3rd BG websites does not seem to show much else.

I cannot find a MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) on fold3.com for him. It is possible that no report was filed, if, for example he was killed in a crash the occurred in allied territory while on a mission.

His serial number was O-747444 and rank was 2 LT .

A book of the 3rd BG is on the web as a series of pdf files, but other than his picture and name (which you have seen) there does not seem to be much more info. In particular nothing about a crash of an A-20 on 29 June 1944.

He was a pilot, as he had two accidents in training, one in November 1943 and another in January, 1944. These accidents are listed here (search for Lockwood on the pages):
The first is 17 November 1943:
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/ ... fset=32975

and here on 11 January 1944.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/ ... fset=16425

and also here (name given as Lockwood George “G,” Jr in the 2nd one.
http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/877/230.xml

http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/877/255.xml

This last list in interesting as it names the two other men in the crew, Shackelford, Jesse B and Bisdorf, Robert E.

On the roster for the 89th BS given here:
http://www.thompsonportal.com/Lauren/Ri ... ters-2.pdf

Lockwood is on the first page, 3rd column, 2nd from the top and Shackelford is listed on the 3rd page, 3rd column. It is possible Shackelford was still in his crew.

There does not seem to be a Bisdorf listed that I could find, but a Bisdorf Robert F (not “E”) was an A-20 gunner killed in the 90th BG on April 18, 1945. “Possibly” the same man.

You can request the accident reports (for a fee) from the aviationarchaeology.com website or for free (but with a longer wait time} from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell AFB, AL.
afhranews@maxwell.af.mil



As to what happened to him on 29 June 1944, another option is to request his IDPF file. This is also known as the 293 file. It would contain information about the recovery and identification of his body and it may contain more details about his death.

Search for "Individual Deceased Personnel File" on the web. Many sites will tell you how to request it.

Note: It will take a long time (up to a year) to get the report, it even take months just to get an acknowledgment that they received your request (even if you do it via e-mail). Note: that several sites seem to give a different e-mail address to use, if your e-mail bounces try a different address. I think that some sites may just have outdated address information.

You might try to post your request on other WWII aviation websites such as armyairforces.com.

They have a forum about the 3rd BG.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/3rd-BG-f276.aspx

Good Luck in in your research.

Re: Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 7:56 am
by SeekingUncleGeorge44
Thank you for all your help! We will be looking into this in the next few days and weeks. It is greatly appreciated.

Re: Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:07 pm
by W.J.Swain
June 29, 1944:

89th sq A-20 crashed into the hills at the south shore of Lake Sentani immediately after take off on a mission to hit villages in the Sarmi area. Cause of carsh unknown but witnessed by multiple crew members on other planes. Both men killed instantly.

Pilot- Lockwood, Lt George Q, Jr.

Gunner-Mattoon, Sgt Claire E.

Re: Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:15 am
by RSwank
Here is the grave of Clair E Mattoon:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... d=58169793

A crash on takeoff would explain why there is no MACR.

Re: Info regarding George Q. Lockwood, Jr.

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:03 pm
by W.J.Swain
Yes, thats why no MACR. Supplied the family with some photos last night..