UPL 25512
IMAGELiberty Belle, #43-38037 - B-17 of the 836th Squadron S/Sgt George R. Michael (radio operator) first on left front row was one of two men who survived. B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle' with part of her ground crew and the crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson, 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Lavenham, England. All but two of Lt Jackson's crew were killed in a midair collision near Bielefeld, Germany on September 30, 1944. The men in this photo are: Back Row (L to R): 2/Lt Edward C. Plevak, Bombardier – KIA 2/Lt John H. Franke Jr, Navigator – POW Three ground crew members, unknown 2/Lt Theodore I. Sherrill, Copilot – KIA 1/Lt Raymond F. Jackson, Pilot – KIA Front Row (L to R): S/Sgt George R. Michael, Radio Operator – POW Sgt Bennie L. Ballard, Waist Gunner – KIA S/Sgt Willie Rogers, Ball Turret – KIA S/Sgt Laverne W. Nelson, Engineer – KIA S/Sgt Benjamin W. Harcq Jr, Tail Gunner – KIA (Paul Webber)
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Liberty Belle
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Lavenham/Alpheton Airfield
Revisions
1. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004 (This photo is published on page 134.)
2. Eric Michael, a grandson of S/Sgt George R. Michael. Email communication in January 2016
3. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)
Also see:
Find A Grave. 1/Lt Raymond F. Jackson (1922 – 1944)