Mitchell Small

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Shot down 21 October 1942 in B-17 41-24441 'Francis X' while serving as Ball Turret Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Lieutenant Harry R. Erickson, from Mankato, Minnesota, a bombardier of the 97th Bomb Group inside the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the ammunition to the bottom left of Erickson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Air(Boeing).' [written annotation] and '212091.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt. Harry Erickson from Mankato, Mi

Harry Ray Erickson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17017977 / O-440334
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Joe Gray Jr

Joe Henry Gray

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14012196 / O-419578
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Ned R Herzstam

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39165066
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Kenneth Laud

Kenneth Kurtz Laud

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20744087
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

William Thomas Lynch

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14073155
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

41-24441

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Francis X
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Lorient, France 21 October 1942 Aircraft shot down by enemy aircraft near Lorient, France. His remains were never recovered.

Other

Commemorated

Saint-James, France Commemorated of the Wall of the Missing, Brittany AMerican Cemetery.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Conections with other crew members

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 18-Nov-2014. Added KIA & Commemoration events.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, 97th BG/ 414th BS Losses of the 8th and 9th AF Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 38