Jesse Wilson Roberts
MilitaryShot down 20 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37890 "Big Friend". Sole survivor of the ten crew members. Prisoner of War (POW).
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: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12037589
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13081862 at enlistment, then O-756939
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11114262
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36398334
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14068980 at enlistment, then O-677820
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rovin’ romona ii/big friend
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 20 April 1944
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana, United States | 30 March 1917 | |
|
Enlisted |
29 October 1942 | Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana | |
|
Other Bailed out |
20 April 1944 | of B-17 B-17 #42-37890 near Cherbourg, France | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
21 April 1944 | captured by members of a Flak Battery in Théville near Cherbourg, France. Interned at Stalag XVIIB in Braunau, near Krems, Austria. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control 20 July 1945.” | |
|
Died |
1 November 2010 | Anderson, Indiana | |
| Daleville, Delaware County, Indiana | |||
|
Buried |
Jesse Roberts rests at the Oak Hill cemetery in Lebanon, Indiana |
Revisions
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources
MACR 4169
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/61058230/jesse-wilson-roberts
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4169 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database