Name: Albert Lanker
First Name(s): Albert
Last Name: Lanker
Place of birth: California, Sonoma Cnty, Petaluma
Rank: 1 Lt Pilot
ASN: O-753685
Company: 31st Ph Recon Sqdrn
Unit: 10th Photo Recon Grp 9th USAAF
Reported as: KIA
Date of incident: 26-12-1944
Place of incident: Chenogne area
His story: Aircraft Lockheed LIGHTNING type P-38-F-5E-3 #44-23703, took off from Airbase Conflans, France on December 26, 1944 to drop these precise photos to the besieged troops. Unfortunately 1 Lt Albert Lanker never arrived at the place planned for the drop. Lt Lanker was shot down by German Anti-Aircraft Artillery. According to German report J-3007, Lt Lanker’s P-38 fell near Chenogne, Belgium.
A thew hours later, Capt Roger V Wolcott of the same 31st Photo Recon Squadron, was killed while attempting to carry out a similar mission. Capt Wolcott was in command of F-5E N #44-23608.
Destination: the battle ground in Bastogne area, Belgium at that time of the Battle of the Bulge
Mission: Photo Dropping
MACR: 11501
Unit history of 10th Photo Recon Group
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