Harry Lee Sparks
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Added photo crew
Object Number - UPL 19058 - The John O. Broten crew, with Co-Pilot Edward Tappan, standing, second from left, Harrington, Spring 1944. (Official USAAF photo)
Harry Sparks enlisted in March 1943. After training in Aerial Gunnery, he was sent overseas and served as an Engineer/ Top Turret 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. Harry Sparks 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.
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 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 18098768
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Ft McClellan, Anniston, Alabama, United States | 2 March 1943 | |
|
Died |
near Trancrainville, Eure-et-Loir, France | 5 July 1944 | Killed In Action (KIA) in the crash of B-24 # 42-72873 |
|
Born |
Alabama, United States | the son of Raleigh Jackson Sparks and Claude (Minton) Sparks | |
|
Buried |
Initially buried at the Les Aubrais cemetery in Orléans; reinterred at the temporary US Military Cemetery in Solers near Melun (Seine-et-Marne), France. He rests at the Epinal Cemetery, Plot A, Row 17, Grave 28 | ||
|
Born |
Piedmont, Calhoun County, Alabama, United States |
Revisions
MACR 6990
NARA WWII Enlistment records
www.801492.org
ABMC website
Research for Edward Tappan’s page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/ftappaned.html
Combat Chronology, USAAF SN Website,
href="http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm">http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm>; Losses of the 8thAF, vol4 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
