I am looking for anyone that may have known my father, Eugene I. Tucker.  He was a pilot, and flew a bomber in WWll.   I believe he was in the 8th. 
Thank You

Susan J. Tucker

Susan,

I'm sure you can appreciate how enormous the military was in World War II.  You'll need to narrow your search down to the group & squadron that your father served in to have a chance at success.

You mention the 8th, do you mean the 8th Air Force?  Again this is also a very large organization...a bit like asking if somebody knows "Joe Smith" from California.

With a little research you can begin to narrow the field.   I suggest you read over our Research Help page and go from there.  It really does help.

Link: http://www.armyairforces.com/help.asp

With a bit more information forum members will be able to assist you more.  That's what we're here for.

Did he survive the war?   The ironic fact is that if he was wounded, shot down, or killed in action there will be data points for you to search on.   If he survived the war then you're going to have to dig into family stories, his service records, and all the things covered on the Research Help page.

Best of luck with your search,

Scott Burris, 381st BGMA LTM
ArmyAirForces.com

Hello Scott,
Dad was very quiet about his time in Europe.  He was a career man.  He retired out of Beale Air Force Base as Lt. Col. Eugene I. Tucker.  He flew Bombers, and a KC-135 refueler.  Mom would say that Dad had a rough time during the war, but would never elaborate.  For sure it was the 8th Air Force, based in England. I believe the time frame was spring of 1942 or ?43.   My brother seemed to remember someone talking about an airfield that had cornfields around it, and that when it was bombed his plane was one of the few left.
We both recall that the name of the plane as either Courageous Lady or Lady Courageous.  Places that we lived through the years were, Westover, Bunker Hill, Guam, Wichita Falls and Fairchild.  I have tried to obtain records via NARA but they continue coming up "destroyed by fire".

Susan J. Tucker

Susan,
Scott's correct.  Provide as much information as you can no matter how small it seems.  For instance you mentioned corn fields, this may mean something to somebody that might lead you the base and bomb group.
 
You did mention "Lady Courageous", well the 388th Bomb Group out of Knettishall England had a B-17 with that name.  Here is a link: http://www.388thbg.org/planes/planepage.htm 
You might check with the 388th bomb group association.  Do you have any photos at all?  Crew photos, base, uniform/patches, letters or photos of aircraft.  The 388th did carry a Square H on the tail of their B-17's (midway through the end of the airwar in Europe).
 
Keep checking this thread you may be surprised at the response you get.  But of course follow Scott's advice and link for research help.
Good Luck!
-Keith
 

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Susan,
 
The only "Lady Courageous" I could find in my 8th Air Force reference is the one Keith mentioned with the 388th Bomb Group stationed at Knettishall. It was attached to the 560th Squadron. There could be a problem with the timeframe you mentioned. This plane. serial number 44-6096,  arrived overseas 26 May 1944 and crashlanded on the base 29 June 1944. and was salvaged. The nine crewmen all returned to duty. No identity of the pilot or crew mentioned. Possibly you can get some information from the 388th historian from the site Keith posted. I could find no plane named "Courageous Lady" with the 8th Air Force.
 
Vic

Susan - the " Cornfield photo " was taken in Poltava , Russia June 22d, 1944. The 388th was part of a shuttle Mission called " Operation Frantic " England - Russia - Italy - return to England. The Airfield at Poltava was attacked by German Bombers and many 388th B - 17s were damaged or destroyed. The B - 17 your Dad was on  #46096 " Lady Courageous " was slightly damaged. The Pilot of #46096 is listed as Lt. Littlejohn. 
# 46096 was destroyed July 29 , 44. On landing crashed into a Gas truck. Pilot Lt. Fitzpatrick and Crew were OK. 
I have the 388th History Book - I believe your Dad was a Co - Pilot. I will look for more info and get back to you.
Mike
 
    
 

Hi Mike,
 
I think that you are on track.  My brother does recall the name Littlejohn.  And he said that the plane was crash upon landing by another pilot.  Oh. thank you soooo moch for you help.
Susan

Susan,
Ok here is a link showing Littlejohn Crew with Tucker as Co-pilot. 
http://www.388bg.org/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&dataType=Crew&id=388-C265

Crew Facts: Littlejohn, 560th BS,  30 missions, 1st 25 Apr 44, last 07 Jul 44.
Pilot-  J. Littlejohn
Co-Pilot-  Tucker
Nav- Nicholson
Radio-  Minor
Engineer-  Siega
Bombardier-  Nelson
WG- Patterson
WG- Murphy
BT-  Ansbach
unknown- Scheneck
unknown- Woodburn
TG-  Liuzza.

There is also a list of their 30 missions with Aircraft names and s/n's
They flew "Lady Courageous" 13 out of the their last 15 missions. 

From same website as above is a profile on Lady Courageous with a photo.
Link:  http://www.388bg.org/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&dataType=Aircraft&id=44-6096
Photo:

(I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED THIS PHOTO IS NOT A PHOTO OF LADY COURAGEOUS, this photo loads for all of the 388th aircraft profiles that do not have an actual photo)
-Keith

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

It appears Pilot Littlejohn, (if same) may have made Captain and went for a second tour and was KIA 10 Dec 1944 while on a flight from Knettishall to Prestwick.  B-17G 42-97286.
Here is a link with photos & crew list as loaded that flight:  http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/away42-97286.htm

Another link on the subject of the Littlejohn crash.  Keep scrolling for more info given about the crash and crew (this is the important part to the link.  There is a discussion on morality of selling crash site relics, that I just skimmed over and don't care to waste time on)  http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/archive/index.php?t-20423.html
&
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/archive/index.php?t-35731.html

-Keith

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

To muddy the waters a bit, the 388th website crewmen search feature has about (5) Tucker's listed, none that show Eugene.  There is one link (2nd in 'Tucker' list) that does not load. 
Under this search feature the 388th shows Riggs M Tucker with the Littlejohn Crew.  So I don't know if this is a typo or what? 
Susan do you know a Riggs M. Tucker?
 
Here is the link: http://www.388bg.org/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&dataType=Person&id=388-I-TUC01-03
 
Tucker search page:  http://www.388bg.org/servlet/Controller?pageType=index&dataType=Person&sortColumn=person.lastName&subsetColumn=person.lastName

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Hello There,
Sorry that I have not been in contact with you folks lately. Work has been quite busy.
Good news!  A lost cousin contacted me, through a family research site posting.  He sent me some articles concerning my father.
 

HERE IS THE FIRST ONE.

[image]local://upfiles/11017/1F2ECC134F414FBCAC6DD00A6A3FC7E7.gif[/image]

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Susan J. Tucker

hERE IS THE INSIDE OF THE INVITATION

[image]local://upfiles/11017/7E12C673059146059224F9D894EC3ED4.gif[/image]

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Susan J. Tucker

HERE IS ONE OF THE FEW NEWSPAPER ARLICLES.

[image]local://upfiles/11017/42B1937CF0DD475C94E5646CB0295D3C.gif[/image]

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Susan J. Tucker

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE MEDALS THAT I REMEMBER AS A CHILD

Susan J. Tucker

SORRY, THIS IS THE PICTURE

[image]local://upfiles/11017/44F68B6CCCAF4F0DAEDA9B1E45397FB9.gif[/image]

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Susan J. Tucker

Susan,
Any chance of getting a close up of the framed document that is above the medals. It is a 'lucky bastard' certificate, and will definitely give a lead to what unit your dad belonged.
Best regards,
Ivo de Jong

This is the best that I could do.
I can barely make out my Dad's name.
and
Aircraft: Lady Courageous
 
Susan

[image]local://upfiles/11017/135343E904B44692BDD7A5A68A18D921.gif[/image]

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Susan J. Tucker

Hello Susan,
Although not much detail is visible, I am now quite sure that your dad belonged to the 388th Bomb Group. Every Group had its own certificate for the 'lucky bastards' that made 30 or 35 missions. I have attached a scan of such a certificate for a member of the 388th BG and you will notice the similarity between it and the one you provided. Significant is also that the name of the individual's aircraft is included on the certificate, and I have not seen many instances of that. Apparentlyit was a common practice in the 388th Bomb Group.
I suggest that you focus your research on the 388th Bomb Group. I don't know if a visit to the National Archives near Washington D.C. is feasible for you, as a search in the Group records is the only way to positively prove his service with this Group. I can give you more advice on this if you wish.
Best regards,
Ivo de Jong


[image]local://upfiles/8226/FD80A4336AED437298173C4EB03278B0.jpg[/image]

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Hello Ivo,
Thank You for your help.
I have attempted to get military records concerning my father, yet they seem to always inform me of the fire that destroyed many military records.
Susan

Susan J. Tucker