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| Lt. Paris Coleman was a B-17 pilot in the 401st Bombardment Squadron. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161101175/paris-rell-coleman https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/b-17/b-17-91-bomb-group-401-bomb-squadron/ |
Paris Rell Coleman never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 2, 1918 in Kentucky. His parents Paris and Pernina were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a general store merchant and later as a farmer. Paris had four older brothers, one older sister and one younger sister. By 1940 Paris had completed four years of high school and was working as a bartender.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 30, 1940. He was selected for training as a bomber pilot and ended up as a B-17 pilot in the 401st Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force.
On March 6, 1944 Lt. Coleman was part of a 730 heavy bomber mission to Berlin. Sixty-Nine aircraft failed to return including Lt. Coleman's. After being fatally damaged by enemy fighters, Lt. Coleman ordered everyone to bail out. Lt. Coleman either died from his injuries shortly after landing or he may have been killed by German civilians who regularly killed downed airman as retribution for bombing their homes.
His grave is at Sunset Cemetery in Galloway, Ohio.
Last year on this date I profiled B-24 navigator Irwin "Zipper" Zaetz, still missing in action. You can read about Irwin 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
My Father-in-Law was a B-17F co-pilot. He was in the Bloody 100th Bomb Group. They were the first to bomb German soil. Later missions in Sep. 1943 He and his crew had to bail out over Germany. He said that he was captured about quick as he touched down and taken to nearby town. He was put into a cage in the town square and sign posted on the cage, that stated something to the effect, "American Gangster who has murdered German people." He said that the townspeople would curse, threaten and throw things at him. He said it was the only time that he feared for his life. After several hours, the Luftwaffe came and took him away and spent the duration in a POW Stalag. He was liberated by Patton's Army in Mar or Apr 1945. He went into captivity as a Flight Officer (his rank) and emerged a Captain. He returned to civilian life in 1946 and made a living for him and family as an Operating Engineer.
ReplyDeleteI was just notified by family search that I had relatives that were in ww2. I believe this hero is a distant cousin.I am very proud of him and all who paid the ultimate price. What a hero!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you found this.
DeleteIf you want to read about Paris Coleman's last mission go to
DeleteMarch 6,1944, Mission to Berlin! I met his co-pilot, it was their 17th mission. The crews only had a 10 % chance to finish 25 missions. God Bless them all.
https://www.americanheritage.com/yes-damn-were-going-back-berlin#