2nd Lieutenant Warren Russell Lobdell was born on December 6, 1920 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to parents William and Eleanor Lobdell. He had two sisters – Virginia and Eleanor – and one brother – William. His father was employed as a clerk at an oil refinery. After graduating from high school, 2nd Lt. Lobdell attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where he was President of the Freshman Class Student Government. He also was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

2nd Lt. Lobdell registered for the draft on February 16, 1942 in Baton Rouge while he was a student at LSU. He then enlisted on November 3, 1943 and began training as an Aviation Cadet.

Aviation Cadets experienced rigorous training to earn their wings and commissions, and the different stages of training were as follows:

Classification: The stage where it would be decided whether the air cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot.

Preflight: Ground training for all cadets. Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training.

Primary: Taught basic flying using two-seat training aircraft.

Basic: Learned air navigation, formation flying, cross country flying sills.

Advanced: Single or multi-engine aircraft schools for air cadets becoming fighter, bomber, or transport pilots. After graduation, the air cadet received his wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

After receiving his wings and commission, 2nd Lt. Lobdell was initially assigned to the Eighth Air Force, 495th Fighter Training Group, 552nd Fighter Training Squadron. He was then transferred to the Eighth Air Force, 358th Fighter Group and trained in Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter planes. This FG consisted of three Fighter Squadrons – 365th FS, 366th FS, and 367th FS. 2nd Lt. Lobdell was a member of the 366th FS. In February 1944 the 358th FG was transferred to the Ninth Air Force.

The 358th FG was activated on January 1, 1943 after being established on December 20, 1942. After activation it was based for short periods in the United States – Baltimore, Maryland in April 1943; Camp Springs Army Airfield, Maryland in May 1943; Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania in June 1943; and Richmond Army Airfield, Virginia in August 1943. It shipped out to England in September 1943 and established its first headquarters at Royal Air Force Base Goxhill, near Thetford, Norfolk, England. From this base it commenced combat operations in December 1943 and was designated United States Army Air Force Station 345. From this base, the 358th FG flew missions in support of the Allied war effort in Europe, flying the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane. Additional bases in England used were:

RAF Leiston, England / USAAF Station 373 - November 1943

RAF Raydon, England / USAAF Station 157 - January 1944

RAF High Halden, England / USAAF Station 411 - April 1944

After the invasion of Continental Europe in Normandy, France on D-Day – June 6, 1944 – the USAAF supported the Allied move south and east from Normandy by using captured German airfields or by building air strips called Advanced Landing Ground airfields. While rudimentary in nature, these airstrips were efficient and built quickly by RAF and USAAF Engineer Battalions. The following ALG bases were stations for the 358th FG:

Cretteville, France - ALG A-14 - July 1944

Pontorson, France - ALG A-28 - August 1944

Vitry-le-Francois, France - ALG A-67 - September 1944

Mourmelon , France - ALG A-80 - October 1944

Toul-Croix, France - ALG A-90 - November 1944

Mannheim/Sandhofen, Germany – ALG Y-79 - April 1945

Reims, France - August 1945

The 358th FG squadrons participated in and supported several key and strategic missions, campaigns, and operations that helped turn the tide against Germany: D-Day on June 6, 1944 on the beaches and inland in Normandy, France; Northern France: European Air Offensive; Ardennes, Belgium; Central Europe; and Rhineland, Germany.

Flying the P-47, a crucial function of these units were bomber escort missions - protecting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Bombers, Consolidated B-24 Liberator Heavy Bombers, Martin B-26 Medium Bombers, and Douglas A-26 Light Bombers during their missions from England to Continental Europe. In addition to the protection they provided the bombers, the 359th FG engaged German aircraft in aerial combat and shot down enemy aircraft during these missions.

Another vital function of these units was bomb/strafe missions across Europe flying the P-47. Among the many operations these groups participated in was flying cover for Allied forces before, during, and after D-Day. These critically important strafing and bombing missions included attacking German targets such as troop concentrations, railyards, bridges, tunnels, gun emplacements, roadways, fuel and oil centers, armored vehicles such as tanks and personnel carriers, ammunition storage facilities, ships, shipyards, submarine bases, radar facilities, buildings housing enemy troops, and airfields.

On June 27, 1944 - on what would be his final mission – 2nd Lt. Lobdell took flight in his P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter (Serial # 42-8415) with fellow pilots of the 366th FS. It was reported by fellow pilots that his plane sustained battle damage during this mission, and he was killed when his plane crashed near Mahéru, France.

2nd Lt. Lobdell finds his final rest in Magnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge – Section 5, Lot 96.

For his heroism and service, 2nd Lt. Lobdell was awarded the Purple Heart.

The following memorial honoring 2nd Lt. Lobdell’s sacrifice and heroism is found in Mahéru: https://www.aerosteles.net/stelefr-maheru-lobdell

As part of the Ninth Air Force, the 358th FG was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for their support of the liberation of France and pushing the Germans east of the Rhine River and in southern Germany.

The 358th FG was honored with a memorial on the 70th and 75th anniversaries of D-day in Coigny, France:

https://www.kaiserslauternamerican.com/358th-fighter-group-memorialized-at-70th-d-day-anniversary/

https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/normandy/commemorations/2019/photos/coigny

https://www.aerosteles.net/stelefr-coigny-358fg

Additional information can be sourced from the following sites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Air_Force

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninth_Air_Force

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/unit/495th-fighter-training-group

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/unit/552nd-fighter-training-squadron

https://www.trailblazersww2.org/history_358thFG.htm

https://www.fold3.com/publication/1097/unit-history-us-358th-fighter-group-1943-1945

https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/358th_Fighter_Group.cfm

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/unit/366th-fighter-squadron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/366th_Fighter_Squadron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40_Warhawk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/stories/p-47-thunderbolt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-26_Marauder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-26_Invader

358th FG Nickname : Orange Tails

358th FG Moto : With Sword and Wings

Thank you for your sacrifice and service in fighting to protect freedom and democracy 2nd Lt. Lobdell….Rest in Peace.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII Fallen saved on Together We Served and www.Fold3.com . Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me…I would be honored to make changes/additions where requested.

kgm72@comcast.net

Warren R Lobdell