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 360th Crockett Crew
George W. Crockett, Pilot
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GEORGE W. CROCKETT JR. CREW - 360th BS
B-17F Shangri-La Lil #42-29754 (360BS) PU-B
(crew assigned 360BS: 13 July 1943 - photo: 12 Aug 1943)
(Crockett was copilot to J.E. Bradbury, upgraded to pilot 01 Aug 1943)

(Back L-R) 2Lt William J. Cramsie (B)(KIA); 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (P)(POW);
2Lt Israel (Ira) Millner (N)(POW); 2Lt Meran A. Barsam, Jr. (CP)(KIA)

(Front L-R) S/Sgt Benjamin Clarke, Jr. (BTG)(POW); S/Sgt Eugene F. Williams (LWG)(POW);
S/Sgt James C. Burke (TG)(POW); T/Sgt Allen D. Jaynes (R)(POW);
Sgt Eddie Douglas (Tex) Homer (RWG)(POW); T/Sgt Morris Tepper (E)(KIA)

Six credited combat missions flown by 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr.:
57 (29 July 1943), 56, 60, 61, 62, 64 (27 August 1943)
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Two B-17Fs flown by 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. on his six credited combat missions:

  • 42-5393 (P) Thumper Again (360BS) PU-G - Missions 55, 56
  • 42-29754 (P) Shangrila La Lil (360BS) PU-B - Missions 60, 61, 62, 64
    (P) See Nose Art Photos.
Crew Notes:
  • 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (P)(POW) - 6 credited missions flown: As CoPilot with 1Lt Joseph E. Bradbury (2 missions - 55, 56); As First Pilot (4 missions - 60, 61, 62, 64).

  • 2Lt Meran A. Barsam, Jr. (CP)(KIA) - 5 credited missions flown: As Copilot with Lt George V. Stallings, Jr. (1 mission - 53); With 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (4 missions - 60, 61, 62, 64).

  • 2Lt Israel (Ira) Millner (N)(POW)- 7 credited missions flown: With Lt John J. Caseload (Mission 52); With 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (6 missions - 55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 64).

  • T/Sgt Allan D. Jaynes (R)(POW) - 7 credited missions flown: With Lt William T. Baker (Mission 53); With 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (6 missions - 55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 64).

  • 2Lt William J. Cramsie (B)(KIA), T/Sgt Morris Tepper (E)(KIA), S/Sgt Benjamin Clarke, Jr. (BTG)(POW), S/Sgt Eugene F. Williams (LWG)(POW), Sgt Eddie Douglas (Tex) Homer (RWG)(POW), S/Sgt James C. Burke (TG)(POW) - 6 credited missions flown - All with 2Lt George W. Crockett, Jr. (55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 64).
Burial of the three KIA Crewmen:
The three KIA crewmen were initially buried in the British plot of the Merville, France Community Cemetery. 2Lt Meran A. Barsam, Jr. (CP) was re-interred in the Normandy American Cemetery near Coleville-sur-Mer, France. 2Lt William J. Cramsie (B) and T/Sgt Morris Tepper (E) were later returned by their families for burial in the United States.

Mission Note:
27 August 1943, Mission 64 to Watten, France in B-17F 42-29754 Shangri La Lil (360BS) PU-B. Was hit by an intense flak barrage near the bomb bay in the vicinity of St. Omer, France The B-17 practically disintegrated in the air. Shangri La Lil was south of the intended target when hit. The 303rd BG(H) formation had crossed the French coast south of Le Touguet, flew an easterly course and then turned to the left to fly a north-easterly course that was altered to north-westerly. The B-17 came down in a village called Morbecque, outside Hazebrouck.. The front position of the B-17 (forward of the bomb bay) was blown away. See the Shangri La Lil Crash Photos.

[photo courtesy Bill Burke, nephew of James Burke]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]