Francis Leon Eastham
MilitaryFrancis 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).
Connections
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Units served with
- 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: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33121634
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11044073 at enlistment, then O-724020
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18060772 at enlistment, then O-726196
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18057854 at enlistment, then O-726216
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16009590
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: L'il Abner
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 5 April 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
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
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
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