Gordon Bennett Erickson

Military
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field UPL 65231 UPL 65231 July 4, 1943, Mission No. 71 to LeMans, France, wreckage of B-17F 42-29960 "NYMOKYMI" 544th Bomb Squad, 384th Bomb Group, code SU-J. The B-17 was hit by flak over Le Mans after releasing its bombs. The plane turned North, and was hit again in the #4 engine, and the prop would not feather. The oxygen system was punctured, and Erickson gave the signal to bail out. The plane was ultimately brought down by an Me109. Roger Cornevin-Haydon, a French citizen, was in a stadium watching the airstrike, and saw the B-17 smoking, at low altitude, and witnessed the crew bail out near a small town. The French citizens arrived before the Germans, and aided the crew.
On

Object Number - UPL 65231 - July 4, 1943, Mission No. 71 to LeMans, France, wreckage of B-17F 42-29960 "NYMOKYMI" 544th Bomb Squad, 384th Bomb Group, code SU-J. The B-17 was...

Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 42-29960 'Nymokymi'. Evaded with aid of French Resistance.

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-797007
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Headshot of man in WWII era Air Force uniform
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-796529
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Man in WWII-era Air Force uniform posed standing outdoors in front of a brick building.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-734698
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nymokymi
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old Ironsides
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Revisions

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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / E&E 65 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor, , http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Gordon Bennett Erickson: Gallery (1 items)