Memorial

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T/Sgt Joseph A. Lucas worked at a chemical plant before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis County, Missouri on 29 October 1942.

He was married to Drucilla Lavon Aldridge on 13 October 1940.

Eyewitnesses state that the 'Sassy L' or 'Sassy Lassy' was hit by flak as bombs were released. The aircraft disintegrated and no parachutes were seen. Later reports suggest it may have been bombs from another B-17 that destroyed the 'Sassy L'. There is no confirmation of this and the fate of the aircraft will probably never positively determined. The Casualty Report states the plane was hit by flak in the bomb bay. All 9 crewmen were killed. Six are listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. The remains of William F. Edmondson and Herman F. Herhamer returned to the Unites States and Ralph O. Ingalls is buried at the American Military Cemetery of Lorraine.

Field investigations conducted on 15 July, 26 July 1948 and 16 February 1949 revealed that five or six badly burned bodies were recovered from the wreckage by the German military. However no information could be obtained as to the whereabouts or burial of these men.