Francis Leon Eastham

Military

Francis Eastham was Top Turret gunner on B-17 #42-5431 "Lil Abner", shot down 5 April 1943. Crew bailed out and saw their plane explode. Landing in the Antwerp area, in and around a factory, most of them were quickly gathered by Germans. Prisoner of War (POW). Interned at Stalag, near Krems, Austria. Prisoner of War (POW).

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19062195 at enlistment, then O-726928
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33144160
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19003418
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12033596
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Wildorado, Oldham County, Texas, United States 10 October 1919

Enlisted

21 November 1941 Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

5 April 1943 Interned at Stalag XVIIB in Braunau, Austria. Returned to Military Control 8 June 1945.

Died

26 December 1998 San Antonio, Texas
El Paso, Texas

Revisions

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ContributorED-BB
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SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

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ContributorED-BB
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NARA WWII Enlistment records

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ContributorED-BB
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NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card

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ContributorED-BB
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NARA WWII POW records

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; Roll of Honor, , Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 100, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp 81. / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia