Fern Lemuel Scott Steepleton

Military

Fern Steepleton was Co-Pilot on B-24 # 42-100372, shot down by fighters over Germany on the 25 December 1944 mission to Wahlen, Germany. Plane crashed near Règné, 10km SW of Vielsalm, Belgium. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32209932 at enlistment, then O-713123
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17065041 / O-690930
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06877750
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06295620
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32411289
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-100372) nicknamed "Old Glory" of the 389th Bomb Group. Handwritten on front of image: '2 Div B-24. Red, white and blue, 8th AF.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 25 December 1944

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Trinidad, Colorado, United States 27 April 1922

Enlisted

18 June 1942 Pueblo, Colorado

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

25 December 1944 Interned at Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany, Returned to Military Control 13 July 1945.
Pueblo, Colorado

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 11681

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11681