Presumably shot down by flak on a mission to Bernburg, GR on 22 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-39857 'Belle of the Ball'. Prisoner of War (POW).







On the sixth mission, Feb. 22 1944, after bombs away over the target, Bernberg Germany, two engines were hit by flak and the plane fell out of formation. The Pilot Lt. Hampton Pugh went into a cloud bank and flew in the clouds for a period of time then flew out into clear blue sky only to be jumped by 6-8 german fighters they put up a good fight and they downed at least 4 fighters and 2 by my father Carter Gibson. Then the tail got hit by a rocket and blew a hole in the side, shrapnel went into my fathers arm and his guns were knocked out. Most of the guns were knocked out on his B17 so the Pilot rang the bail-out bell. Everyone bailed out except pilot and co-pilot, they floated down only to be captured by the germans and sent to Stalag Luft 6 and a Prisoner of War (POW) till the end of the war.



POW/ Purple Heart, ETO medal, D-Day medal, Oak Leaf cluster/Air Medal