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Personal info

Full name
BATTY, Jack Gillem Wilbur
Date of birth
18 December 1910
Age
33
Place of birth
Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York
Hometown
Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
O-504240
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 October 1944
Place of death
3 km south of Senske, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 5 49

Immediate family

Members
Howard W. Batty (father)
Carrie D. Batty (mother)
Enid J. Batty (sister)
Genevieve Batty (wife)
Janice D. Batty (daughter)
Marsha A. Batty (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8143
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 9516

More information

Jack Batty graduated from of Central High School in 1929. He was a manager of the Battle Creek Flying Service at Kellogg Field. He went to Champaign, Illinois, in March 1941, as a civilian instructor and in November 1942, was commissioned in the Army Air Forces at Shaw Field, South Carolina.

At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.

No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.

Three crew members were taken prisoner, and seven men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Senske, Germany.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Marsha McVey-Batty (daughter), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com - Loren Bender, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Record, www.newspapers.com - Battle Creek Enquirer, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - Battle Creek Enquirer