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Submit- Full
name
ESTESS, Cecil C - Date of
birth
26 February 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Silver Creek, Pike County, Mississippi -
Hometown
Pike County, Mississippi
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34425600 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
612th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
10 April 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, 5 miles west of Calais, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Clint R. Estess (father)
Bertie (Fortenberry) Estess (mother)
Robert L. Estess (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31511 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Fool Luke III
Destination: Brussels, Belgium
MACR: 3939
More information
Cecil C. Estess enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, on 18 September 1942.The Group encountered some formation difficulties when the leading planes of the High Squadron were knocked out by flak.
The aircraft went down in the English Channel, but the wind blew them back to the French coast. The plane was hit by flak and forced to ditch 5 miles west of Calais, France. Some of the crew members were lost during or after ditching.
The remainder were rescued by the German Air/Sea Rescue Service and made POWs.
Source of information: WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Footnote.com, Missing Air Crew Report, 401bg.org, www.newspapers.com - McComb Enterprise-Journal
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.remember-our-heroes.nl - Andy Swinnen