Harold K Older

Military

Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. James Sharp crew.



"On 12-May-44 Merseburg mission (aboard B-17 42-107009); M/Sgt Older saved the day for the rest of his crew. With a dead tail gunner and a wounded navigator and no rudder controls. Older, an army man since 1936 and experienced in mechanical matters told the pilot to keep circling the home airfield. Taking an ammunition belt he made a makeshift cable and succeeded in joining the shot-up control cables, allowing the pilot to regain control and land the shot up aircraft."



Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James Cameron Sharp

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12075675 / O-745199
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-107009

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady Jane
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

42-31226

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Saint and Ten Sinners
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

27 December 1913 Son of Burton V. and Evalin [Shut] Older.

Enlisted

13 November 1936

Enlisted

Rapid City AAF, SD 16 November 1945 Rapid City AAF, South Dakota

Other

Discharged USAF

31 May 1957 Honourable discharge.

Died

Missoula, MT 15 January 1988

Buried

Missoula Cemetery Missoula, Missoula County, MT 18 January 1988 Missoula Cemetery Missoula, Missoula County, Montana

Other

Discharged USAAF

Honourable discharge.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/184718698
https://www.fold3.com/image/604332821
https://www.fold3.com/record/72522485/harold-k-older-social-security-de…
https://www.fold3.com/record/83207783/harold-k-older-wwii-army-enlistme…
https://www.fold3.com/record/618590301/harold-older-1913-veterans-affai…
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/143780224

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1206