World War II Honoree

J. D. Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Benton, Arkansas

Honored By

Arnold A. Wright

Relationship

Friend

ON AUGUST 20, 1944, WAS UPPER TURRET GUNNER ON A B-24 BOMBER FLYING ON A MISSION TO SZINOK, HUNGARY. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY FLAK DESTROYING THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE. ANOTHER FLAK BURST HIT THE PLANE AND THE BAIL OUT ALARM WAS SOUNDED. MANAGED TO BAIL OUT BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED. PULLING HIS RIPCORD AND WHILE FALLING, HE WAS HIT IN THE RIGHT KNEE BY SOMEONE FIRING FROM THE GROUND. HE LANDED AND WAS CAPTURED BY HUNGARIAN SOLDIERS. LATER WAS CONFINED TO STALAG LUFT IV, NORTH OF SETTING, GERMANY.