Vincent Brooks Evans
MilitaryL to R Front Row: S/Sgt Cecil N Scott, Altoona, PA., Ball Turret. S/Sgt Clarence B Winchell, Oak Park, IL. L Waist gunner. S/Sgt John P Quinlan, Yonkers, NY., Tail gunner. S/Sgt Casimer A Nastal, Detroit, MI. R Waist gunner.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A06266-23971AC.
Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Native of Texas, he joined the USAAC in 1942 and was assigned as bombardier on the B-17, 'Memphis Belle'. The 'Belle' and her crew would ultimately become the first to fly all of it's required twenty-five missions in the European theatre of WWII, that being the number to be sent back to the US. Her last mission was flown on 17-May-43. After a brief tour in the states, he returned to active service and was sent to the Pacific theatre where he served as bombardier for the B-29 42-24592 'Dauntless Dotty' with 869BS, 497BG, commanded by former 'Memphis Belle' pilot Robert Morgan.
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME and Asia and Pacific Campaign medals.
Post war: With the end of the war, Evans returned to civilian life and moved to California where he became a Hollywood screenwriter and later purchased and operated a successful restaurant. On 20-Apr-80, he was killed in a plane crash along with his wife and daughter.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Memphis Belle
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Texas, USA | 6 September 1920 | |
Died |
Santa Barbara County, CA, USA | 20 April 1980 | Killed in a plane crash along with his wife and daughter. 20-Apr-80. |
Texas, USA | |||
Enlisted |
Fort Worth, TX, USA | Fort Worth, Texas | |
Based |
Bassingbourn | Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Other War bonds tour |
United States | War bond tour with Memphis Belle across the US. | |
Buried |
Oak Hill Cemetery Ballard Santa Barbara County CA | Oak Hill Cemetery Ballard Santa Barbara County California, USA | |
Other 2nd Tour |
Saipan, CNMI | 2nd Tour on B-29's in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/record/623814836/u-s-department-of-veterans-affai…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21061781/vincent-brooks-evans
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency