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Operation: Special V-weapons Installation Site, Watten, France
Date: 27th August 1943 (Friday)
Unit: No. 360th Bomb Squadron 303rd Bomb Group
Type: B17F Flying Fortress
Serial: 42-29754 "Shangrila Lil"
Code: PU-B
Base: USAAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire
Location: Morbecque, outside Hazebrouck France
Pilot: 2nd Lt. George W. Crockett Jr O-737369 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
Co pilot: 2nd Lt. Meran A. Barsam Jr O-742829 USAAF Age ? Killed
Fl/Eng: T/Sgt Morris Tepper 32415990 USAAF Age ? Killed
Nav: 2nd Lt. Israel (Ira) Millner O 674236 USAAF Age 25. PoW Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
Radio/TTG: T/Sgt Allan D. Jaynes 36513389 USAAF PoW Age 22. Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
Air/Bmr: 2nd Lt. William J. Cramsie 0-670020 USAAF Age 25. Killed
BTG: S/Sgt Benjamin Clarke, Jr 36508282 USAAF PoW Stalag 17B Gniexendorf
LWG: S/Sgt Eugene F. Williams 32469422 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
RWG: Sgt Eddie Douglas (Tex) Homer 38049809 USAAF PoW Stalag Moosburg-Lear
TG: S/Sgt James C. Burke 13125289 USAAF PoW Stalag 17B Gniexendorf
REASON FOR LOSS:
Intense flak encountered as the formation approached the target at 16,000 feet.
Details crew picture: (Back L-R) 2nd Lt William J. Cramsie, 2nd Lt George W. Crockett Jr., 2nd Lt Israel, Millner, 2nd Lt Meran A. Barsam Jr. (Front L-R) S/Sgt Benjamin Clarke Jr., S/Sgt Eugene F. Williams, S/Sgt James C. Burke, T/Sgt Allen D. Jaynes, Sgt Eddie Douglas Homer, T/Sgt Morris Tepper. This picture was taken on 12th August 1943, only days before it was shot down over France on the 27th of the same month.Approximately three miles north of St. Omer, B-17F 42-29754 Shangrila Lil, flown by 2Lt.George W. Crockett, Jr., was hit in the vicinity of its bomb bay - practically disintegrating the aircraft in midair. It was flying on the left wing of Maj. Calhoun's lead ship. Four to six parachutes were seen to open.2nd Lt. William J. Cramsie and his dog tags.
The three KIA crewmen were initially buried in the British plot of the Merville, France Community Cemetery.
2Lt Meran A. Barsam, Jr. Re-interred in the Normandy American Cemetery near Coleville-sur-Mer, France.
2Lt William J. Cramsie. Re-interred in the Normandy American Cemetery near Coleville-sur-Mer, France.
T/Sgt Morris Tepper. Later returned by their families for burial in the United States.
With thanks to Michel Beckers who researched this loss. Thanks to Gary Moncur for crew photo and grave photo of 2nd Lt. Meran A. Barsam Jr.
Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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