Robert E Shepard

Military
media-30715.jpeg UPL 30715 1Lt Bert Shepherd 55th FG J Cook photo collection and archives

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Object Number - UPL 30715 - 1Lt Bert Shepherd 55th FG

On the return from operations over France, P-38J 42-67432 ran off the end of the runway while landing at Boreham due to poor weather conditions on 18 Mar 1944. RTD.



Prisoner of War (POW) crashed at Bresegardt on 21 May 44 in P-38 42-67713 on his 34 mission over Germany. His right leg was amputated below the knee, but after the war he pitched for the Washington Nationals Baseball Team and managed teams for a great many years. He was reunited with the German doctor who saved his life in 1944. the doctor had held the German soldiers off at gunpoint to keep them from killing Shepard

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753761
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

Places

Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dana, Indiana 28 June 1920

Other

Crashed - returned

18 March 1944

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 21 May 1944 - 21 February 1945

Died

16 June 2008

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces

Date
Changes
Sources

Updated personal, biographical details and media by courtesy of Gary Bedingfield at http://www.baseballinwartime.com/player_biographies/shepard_bert.htm

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4975 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Robert E Shepard: Gallery (2 items)