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Personal info

Full name
IRVING, Jesse Thomas Jr
Date of birth
8 February 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Stoneville, Rockingham County, North Carolina
Hometown
Mayo, Rockingham County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
34175007
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 January 1944
Place of death
Chemin aux Joncs
Bois de Genech, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 19 15

Immediate family

Members
Jesse T. Irving (father)
Lottie L. (Carter) Irving (mother)
Fred S. Irving (brother)
Robert B. Irving (brother)
Donald R. Irving (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30711
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Fertile Turtle Myrtle
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the war industry
MACR: 2253

More information

Jesse T. Irving Jr. worked on his father's farm.

He enlisted at Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, North Carolina on 1 December 1941.

The plane only had one working engine, having been riddled by flak over Valenciennes. It was also attacked by a German fighter, flown by Lt Friedrich Lang of JG26. The pilot (2nd Lt James F. Holdren) sent the plane into a spiral in order to land near the Genech woods. The plane hit the ground, bounced, disintegrated and caught fire. The fighter circled the wreck, spat out a few barrages then landed in the neighboring Lesquin airfield. Less than an hour later the German pilot accompanied by firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire without success.

Eight crew members were killed. They were einitially buried at the cemetery of Genech the same day. Two men were taken prisoner.

Surviving crew members had seen that Sgt Irving was lying on the floor of his turret when they bailed out.

A monument at the crash site remembers the fallen crew members.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Enlistment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://library.digitalnc.org, Commune de Genech