Shot down on 8/7/44 in Sunshine Rose Prisoner of War (POW)



Harry Ackerman





Navigator, 91st Bomb Group, Bassingbourn, England; and 34th Bomb Group, Mendlesham, England.

A local chapter member, Harry had the distinction of serving in two different bomb groups, the 91st and the 34th. He was trained as a navigator during 1941 and assigned to the 323 Sqdn./91st Bomb Group prior to their deployment to England. Once in the ETO, the 91st became part of the First Air Division of the 8th Air Force based at Bassingbourn, England. In March of 1943, Harry was on his 20th mission, to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, when he was wounded by flak. He recovered and completed 25 missions with the 91st.



Harry was then sent back to the states and assigned to the 34th Bomb Group which was based at Blyth, California at the time. In the spring of 1944 the 34th departed for Mendlesham, England to join the 3rd Air Division of the 8th Air Force. August 7, 1944, Harry was on his 7th mission with the 34th leading three bomb groups on a mission to Aachen, Germany when his plane was shot down. He managed to evade capture and make his way to friendly lines. He was eventually returned to duty with the 34th and spent the balance of the war working on the headquarters staff.

Sources: Conversations with Harry at 8th Air Force Chapter meetings and a bio he provided the organization.













This was a lead plane and Maj. Joe Eaton was flying as Command Pilot and Major Ackerman was flying as Group Nav.



French Croix de Guerre/ Air Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, POW Medal