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| US Military Academy graduate Herschel Jarrell was a B-17 pilot in the 447th Bombardment Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12262844/herschel-ashby-jarrell https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=PublicUnitProfile&type=Unit&ID=1088 |
Herschel Ashby Jarrell never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 2, 1919 in Van, West Virginia. His parents Sullivan and Laura were also both born in West Virginia. His father worked as a farmer and later as a coal mine carpenter. Still later he became a deputy assessor. Hershel had two younger brothers and three younger sisters. By 1940 Hershel was a third year cadet at the United States Military Academy. His mother died in March 1941 and Herschel married Susan Haislip in January 1943.
Upon graduating from West Point, Herschel was assigned to the Army Air Forces and became a first lieutenant and B-17 pilot in the 708th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group. The 447th BG flew its first combat mission on Christmas Eve 1943, out of its base in Rattlesden, England.
The seventh mission of the 447th BG was to bomb the target of Brunswick, Germany on January 11, 1944. Lt. Jarrell was piloting the B-17 nicknamed Lady Jane. A rocket fired from a German fighter hit Lt. Jarrell's plane in the bomb bay, causing the plane to explode. The navigator and top turret gunner survived as POWs. Lt. Jarrell and the rest of the crew were killed in action. The plane crashed near Rehburg, Germany.
His grave is at Boone Memorial Park in Madison, West Virginia. His widow remarried and died in 1980.
Last year on this date I profiled Harry Laustrup. You can read about Harry here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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