USAAF B17 Radio Operator KIA

[Jtski]

I came across this group to Tech Sgt. Glenn D. Brown of Tulsa, Oklahoma in an antique store.

 

A very tragic story - the entire crew of 10 aboard B17G - 42-37911 "The Heats On, Jeanne Marie" 91st Bomb Group, Heavy, 401st Bomb Sqn, were killed on crash landing 1 Jan 1945 at Steeple Morden airfield in Cambridgeshire. They had survived a raid on Kassel, Germany, received damage over the target, were able to make it home then encountered engine trouble on landing. Crashing into a number of P51 Mustangs,  the entire crew were killed. They are:

 

Pilot: Earl Jeffers Jr, Louisiana 

Co-Pilot: John Welch, Kansas

Navigator: Clyde Harlow, Oregon

Radio Operator: Glenn Brown, Oklahoma

Nose Gunner: Roy Parson, Washington DC

Waist Gunner: William Grant, Michigan

Waist Gunner: John Schipp, North Carolina

Ball Turret Gunner: Gaylord Van Horn, Virginia

Top Turret Gunner: George Wilson, Ohio

Tail Gunner: Patrick Mahnoney, New Jersey

 

Sgt Brown had received the Air Medal with two oakleaf clusters which would have indicated he was past his 15th mission with the 8th AF. 

 

Imagine the relief they must have been feeling making it back damaged from Germany only for the worst to occur on landing.

 

Both medals nicely engraved, appear to be period engraving and type, please correct me if I'm mistaken.

 

https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/519353/

 

Jeff

[Jtski]

Air Medal card confirms three awards:

 

26 Sep 44

20 Oct 44

15 Dec 44

 

Other documents indicate:

"Air Medal and Purple Heart Sept 44"

"Air Medal with 2 OLC and Purple Heart Jan 45". No cards found for the Purple Hearts.