Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
CALDWELL, Jack Edward "Black Jack" - Date of
birth
22 February 1912 -
Age
32 - Place of
birth
Colton County, California -
Hometown
White County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-020743 -
Rank
Colonel -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
Headquarters,
387th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Legion of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
12 April 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea
Over Dunkirk, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
James R. Caldwell (father)
Margaret F. (Rand) Caldwell) mother)
Roland W. Caldwell (brother)
Bernard R. Caldwell (brother)
Ruby A. Caldwell (sister)
James W. Caldwell (brother)
Ruth F. (Rogers) Caldwell (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107581 -
Data
Type: B-26-C45
Mission: Operational
MACR: 3745
More information
Flying as a waist gunner in Lt. Waise´s ship in the high bos, I first saw the Colonel´s ship as it turned over on its back, the left wing off by the motor. The plane seemed to be three thousand feet below. I noticed one chute about three thousand feet above the water. Just before the ship hit the water I noticed another chute. The ship struck the water not far outside the harbor. Stated by T/Sgt William H. Lindsey. Apparently Col Caldwell had not the time to make any attempt to leave the ship. He most likely was injured by the shell which struck the left wing very close to the cockpit.After an exciting year and a half at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Second Lieutenant Caldwell won his precious wings. His dream had come true. Jack was transferred to Clark Field 40 miles from Manila. When WWII started he was deputy to the base commanding officer, Mo Daly.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Jack Solomon, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com, Jack Solomon and the United States Military Academy at West Point