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Page 231 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history.
Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations).
Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
Crashed at Jouldes on 6/19/44 in B-17 'Channel Express III'.
Sgt. Francis L. Berard, waist gunner, was unconscious at the time of the explosion. When he came to he was coming down on the center section of the fuselage. He grabbed a 'chute, snapped it to his harness and landed safely. By the next day he had rejoined his crew mates and they made it back to base.
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 16/11/43; Gr Island 4/12/43; Presque Is 11/12/43; Prestwick, UK 15/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-J] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Bordeaux 19/6/44 with Bill Massey, Bombardier: Lew Stelljes, Flight engineer/top turret...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Waterville, ME, USA |
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Evaded capture |
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19 June 1944 |