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name
WYATT, Jesse Lavern - Date of
birth
13 August 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Alabama -
Hometown
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-673663 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
569th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
8 October 1943 - Place of
death
Quelkhorn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William P. Wyatt (father)
Christine (Adams) Wyatt (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30292 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Pulsatin' Polly
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 783
More information
Jesse L. Wyatt attended Ensley High School.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Gunter Field, Alabama on 28 February 1942 and received his wings in Hondo, Texas in February 1943.
According to the right waist gunner, S/Sgt Harold T. Lambert, the airplane was hit by anti-aircraft fire about the time they reached the Initial Point. Two engines were afire and there was also fire in the accessory compartment and part of the oxygen system was disabled. Also, the radio room and the cockpit were hit, injuring both pilots. They were forced to leave the formation and were attacked by enemy fighters, causing further damage. The pilot, Lt Marshall Shepherd, gave the order to bail out, but he was never able to leave his seat himself. While the crew members were trying to leave the airplane, it blew up.
Four men survived and were taken prisoner, and six men were killed.
It was the 13th mission of this crew.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 390 BG Memorial Foundation via Arie-Jan van Hees, The Birmingham News - 18 July 1943, The Birmingham News - 7 March 1943