Willard Edward Freeman
Military
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
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229960 'Nymokymi. ' Evaded with aid of French Resistance.
Connections
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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: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-796529
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nymokymi
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 545th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other EVD |
4 April 1943 |
Revisions
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
E&E 2010 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop & Hey p. 176 S, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…