World War II Honoree

Louis Zeller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

SERVED AS A BALL TURRET AERIAL GUNNER, ONBOARD A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 600TH BOMB SQUADRON, BASED AT NUTHAMPSTEAD AIR FIELD, IN HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND. HIS B-17 (TAIL #42-107218) NICKNAMED 'AGONY WAGON II' WAS SHOT DOWN ON 7 JULY 1944, DURING A BOMBING MISSION TO HIT AN OIL REFINERY IN LEIPZIG, GERMANY. JUST AFTER THE BOMBS WERE DROPPED AND THEY WERE TURNING FOR HOME, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK A FLAK BURST UNDER THE TOP TURRET PLATFORM AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE BOMB BAY. ALTHOUGH THE FLIGHT ENGINEER AND RADIO OPERATOR MANAGED TO EXTINGUISH THE BOMB BAY FIRE, THEY WERE SLOWLY LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD SWEDEN, BUT WITH ONE ENGINE ON FIRE AND ANOTHER THROWING OIL, THE CREW BAILED OUT AT AROUND 12,000 FEET OVER ENEMY TERRITORY NEAR HALLE, GERMANY. THE AIRCREW BECAME PRISONERS OF WAR. HE WAS LIBERATED ON OR ABOUT 7 JUNE 1945.