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name
SHEPARD, James Wilson - Date of
birth
2 April 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Lucasville, Scioto County, Ohio -
Hometown
Buena Vista, Scioto County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35597386 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
351st Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
31 December 1944 - Place of
death
Hamburg-Finkenwerder, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Martin V. Shepard (father)
Rhoda (Elliott) Shepard (mother)
Homer M. Shepard (brother)
Ishler V. Shepard (brother)
Herbert L. Shepard (brother)
Mary E. Shepard (sister)
Helen G. (Rodgers) Shepard (wife)
Flo D. Shepard (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31066 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dixie Baby aka Fools Rush In
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Rheunania Ossag oil refinery
MACR: 11366
More information
T/Sgt James W. Shepard worked in an aircraft factory.He enlisted in Akron, Ohio on 7 January 1943.
The aircraft received a direct hit by flak just before bombs away. The bombs were salvoed and the aircraft fell off on the right wing and dropped on to A/C 43-38124. Both went down in flames and one exploded.
Three crew members were taken prisoner, six were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, 100thbg.com, Footnote.com, MACR, www.ancestry.com Janet C. Shepard Family Tree
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Janet C. Shepard Family Tree