Francisco D Mercado Jr
Military
Connected photograph with the airman's page.
Object Number - UPL 13610 - 1st.Lieutenant Francisco Mercado, Jr.
Francisco Mercado, Jr. (February 17, 1920 – September 23, 2005) was a member of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross who earned his membership to the exclusive “Caterpillar Club” having saved his life by parachuting over England while returning from a mission with a crippled B-24 during World War II.
His B-24 (serial number 42-51218) suffered a mechanical failure and ditched in channel on 21 July 1944.
https://generalthomas.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/fmj-5.pdf
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15335733
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Engineer B-24
Aircraft
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
East Los Angeles, CA, USA | 17 February 1920 | |
|
Based |
Metfield | 20 May 1944 - 15 August 1944 | |
|
Other Returned (RTD) |
North Sea | 21 July 1944 | Bailout over GB coast. |
|
Based |
North Pickenham | 15 August 1944 | The 491st BG replaced the 492nd BG at North Pickenham and remained there until war end. |
|
Died |
23 September 2005 | Los Angeles, California |
Revisions
United States Army Personal 201 folder.
After his 35 missions were completed in January 1945, Lt Mercado was assigned as Squadron Bombardier for his 853rd Bomb Squadron (491st BG) until war end. He reported to the Squadron Commander. Mercado's job was rated for a Captain, but the 491st was over their limit for that rank and he never received the promotion. Mercado went home on the Queen Mary in the summer of 1945.
Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Mercado,_Jr.
MACR 7257 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Combined three entries into a single entry for Francisco D Mercado Jr. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7257
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / WWW.491st.org roster
