Lifford E French
MilitaryNovember 1943 - April 1944.
ETTG, Putek crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Mission #66. Returned to England after an explosion and ensuing fire near the top turret while enroute to Nancy a/f, FR on 6 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-40025 'Touch the Button Nell'. The fire in the cockpit and top turret area convinced the pilot, Lt Putek, to order the crew to bail out. The Navigator, Bombardier and CP all bailed out. S/Sgt French was able to extinguish the fire. Although severely burned, he was also able to assist at the controls of the aircraft until they landed at a B-24 patrol base in Dunkeswell, England. RTD.
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809511
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18105856
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32731258
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-741470
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-694336
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Touch the Button Nell
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 6 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Based |
27 November 1943 | ||
Born |
|||
Died |
Revisions
381st Bomb Group Memorial Assoiciation, March 1999, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia