media-380851.jpg FRE 2046 This is Mayfield R. Shilling (16 Jul 1918 – 28 Jul 1997), U.S. Army Air Corps, of Texas. He was a pilot, operations officer, and air leader in the 838th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group (Heavy), based at Army Air Forces Station 137, Lavenham, Suffolk, England, in 1944–1945. On the 8th Air Force mission of December 24, 1944, he was the Deputy Air Leader of the 487th Bomb Group, flying with the crew of Lt John H. Edwards in B-17G 44-8021. The Air Leader was Brig Gen Frederick W. Castle, who flew with the crew of Lt Robert W. Harriman in B-17G 44-8444. Captain Shilling took over the lead of the 487th Bomb Group after General Castle was shot down with Lt Harriman’s crew (Missing Air Crew Report 11552). Captain Shilling was later promoted to Major. After the war he lived at Kerrville, Texas, where he was employed by Ideal Basic Industries. He was also an interim Chairman of the Board of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He died at Kerrville, Texas, and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Mayfiled Shilling, Houston, Texas.' Roger Freeman Collection

1. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
2. Obituary of Mayfield R. Shilling
3. Shilling, Margaret E. Personal conversation. 23 May 2009
4. U.S. Veterans Administration. Nationwide Gravesite Locator