Jessie Ray Ellis
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Uploaded
Object Number - UPL 19070 - Jessie Ray Ellis
Jessie Ellis enlisted in the Air Corps in February 1943 and followed training in Aerial Gunnery before being sent overseas. He served as a Left Waist Gunner in the 801st Bomb Group/ 36th Bomb Squadron in England. Killed in the loss of B-24D '"Star Spangled Hell", #42-72873. Took off from Harrington at 23:13hrs on 4 July 1944 on a secret Carpetbagger mission of weapons and supplies delivery to the French Underground in the Loir-et-Cher area, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 6990. After successful drop, shot down by ME110 over Orléans, France. A/c caught fire and crashed at 00:10hrs, 5 July, near Champgirault at Trancrainville (Eure and Loire). Co-Pilot Edward Tappan was the only survivor. Jessie Ellis and 6 other members of the 8-man crew were killed in the mid-air explosion and they are commemorated on a plaque on a wall at the entrance to the Trancrainville cemetery.
[ His first name is spelled Jesse in the 1940 US Census for Gregg County, Texas. The MACR and all other Army records have his first name as Jessie.]
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-1574610 and 32206722 on enlisting
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 14132120 and O-688180
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 32860380
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 850th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 14025966 and O-707382
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 31331737
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Raggedy Ann II, Star Spangled Hell
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 67th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 4 July 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Texas, United States | 27 March 1924 | the son of John R. and Letha Ellis |
|
Enlisted |
Dallas, Texas, United States | 22 February 1943 | as a Private in the Air Corps |
|
Died |
near Trancrainville, Eure-et-Loir, France | 5 July 1944 | Killed In Action (KIA) in the crash of B-24 # 42-72873 |
|
Buried |
Grace Hill Cemetery, Longview, Gregg County, Texas, United States | Initially buried at the Les Aubrais cemetery in Orléans; reinterred at the temporary US Military Cemetery in Solers near Melun (Seine-et-Marne), France. His remains were repatriated to the United States. | |
| Longview, Gregg County, Texas, United States |
Revisions
MACR 6990
NARA WWII Enlistment records
www.801492.org
Research for Edward Tappan’s page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/ftappaned.html
801st BG Roster, http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm; Losses of the 8th AF, vol.4, Combat Chronology, USAAF SN Website,
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
