Thursday, March 06, 2008

 

Another Jackson on "the Big Bitch" B-17 foray



I was on the web this morning, trying to find out what my young, dead father's medals represented. (besides his heroic death). A dear friend told me that oak clusters were additional commendations when added to an Air Medal. (he also got a Purple Heart).

I wasn't able to find any specifics about the two oak clusters I have of his, but I did find an article about Bob Jackson, the navigator of The Big Bitch, the B-17 on which my father was a tailgunner.

This is an account of what happened and where, on the day my Dad died. It is pretty amazing to read it today. (understatement).

Here's a link to the article about Bob Jackson. (SCROLL DOWN to Page 4, a Newletter article). My father, Andrew L. Jackson, is not mentioned by name, but this matches all the other details I have. I have a wonderful letter written by the pilot, John Bennett, and sent to my grandmother. John Bennett apparently died in 1991, but I have written to this website to try to get Bob Jackson's email. I have questions for him!!

This whole thing is pretty awesome reading for me!!!

By the way, my plans are made to go to my father's grave site in May 2008.
See Earlier blog post (and photos) about finding my dad: The Big Bitch

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# posted by bevjackson @ 8:36 AM
Comments:
So happy to hear you have your visit planned!
# posted by Blogger Myfanwy Collins : 9:02 AM
 
Those guys in the B-17's were sitting ducks. Every accounting of this action makes me believe that they just threw metal and bodies at the "German problem".
My dad flew P-51's but I think that was mainly on the "Japanese problem".
Your father was a real hero.
# posted by Blogger goatman : 5:35 PM
 
Thanks, Myfanwy! Yeah, my credit card is beginning to look really scary!! But I'm afraid to wait too long.

Thanks, Goatman. Well, those B=17's did a LOT of damage to their targets, I believe. But yes, it was a huge
sacrifice of American boys. Nice of you to stop by.
# posted by Blogger bevjackson : 6:16 AM
 
I'm so glad you're planning a trip there.
# posted by Anonymous Barbara W. Klaser : 7:44 PM
 
Hi Beverly. On the Oak Leaf Clusters, it worked like this in general. When a aircrewman completed 10 missions, he would be awarded the Air Medal. For each 5 missions he completed after that, he would get an oak leaf cluster to pin on that medal's ribbon, meaning that he was awarded that medal another time. In other words, an Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster meant the guy had flown at least 15 combat missions, with 2 clusters, flown at least 20 missons, etc... At the time your dad was flying, a combat tour was 25 missions, but no crew made it to that amount until May of 1943, so many were being shot down. The amount of missions required for the medal and subsequent clusters changed over the course of the war, and from theater to theater, but thats basically how it worked.

You can read the offical AAF report of the mission your father was lost on at the following :

http://www.uboatarchives.net/VIIIBC21OCTREPORT.htm
# posted by Blogger SHAEF1944 : 3:10 PM
 
Sorry, leave the " s " out of " archives "....... http://www.uboatarchive.net/VIIIBCOCTREPORT.htm
# posted by Blogger SHAEF1944 : 3:19 PM
 
Well. I keep getting bad pages when I post and then try to copy and paste into my browser ... try one more time ...
http://www.uboatarchive.net/VIIIBCLorient21OCT.htm
# posted by Blogger SHAEF1944 : 3:25 PM
 
I got it, thank you!! I've copied it to my files. I am so grateful to you. All of this is more info than I've known existed in 65 years.

Thanks SO much for the information.
I'm truly appreciative. THRILLEd, actually.

Thank you.
# posted by Blogger bevjackson : 3:29 PM
 
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