John H. Luckadoo, Last Pilot From a Storied Bomber Group, Dies at 103

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NYT

As part of a unit known as the Bloody 100th, he flew 25 harrowing missions in his B-17 bomber over German-held territory during World War II.

By Clay Risen
Published Sept. 17, 2025 Updated Sept. 18, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET

John H. Luckadoo, the last surviving pilot from the storied 100th Bombardment Group, a war-battered unit of B-17 heavy bombers that flew missions deep over German-held territory during World War II, died on Sept. 1 in Dallas. He was 103.

His daughter, Elaine Abbott, said the death, in a hospice facility, was from congestive heart failure.

Mr. Luckadoo, known as Lucky, was just 19 when he enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the United States to enter World War II.

He was assigned to fly B-17s, the military’s new long-range heavy bombers, which were designed to travel from southeast Britain into Nazi-occupied Europe to attack submarine pens, factories, rail yards and, eventually, German cities.


John “Lucky” Luckadoo in 2013 in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Because of the high death toll, only three other pilots of the original 40 in Mr. Luckadoo’s training class reached their 25th flight.Credit...Cooper Neill/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press

Original PAY link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/us/john-h-luckadoo-dead.html

Read more: http://archive.today/Qjlcv

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[Clouds Passing]

1. John

[JohnnyRingo]

2. As an AV buff I enjoyed the story at the link.

There was one mistake though. It indicted that the US insisted on daytime bombing raids as if it was a matter of incompetence.
In reality we flew the day raids and the Brits flew night missions. This made it easier to coordinate missions and kept Germany under constant 24 hour bombardment.

The Flying Fortress was indeed heavily armed but it's real defense was altitude. Unlike the British bombers we bombed from up to 30,000 feet, making it more difficult for fighter planes to intercept. There was no radar at the beginning of WWII so they had to see the contrails, scramble, and hope they can climb that high before the bombers were done. Unfortunately flying such an altitude meant a lighter bomb load, usually no more than 2,000 lbs. The British Lancasters at low level, could carry 15,000+ pounds. The trade off was that it was difficult to hit a target in a blacked out city, even at low altitude. Night fighters were the bane of the RAF, especially with the advent of radar.

Good article. Thanx for posting.

[republianmushroom]

3. Mr. Luckadoo, Sir, RIP

We as a nation owe you so much. Thank you for you sacrifices and service.