Last Edited: July 12, 2023
Note: 80th anniversary permanent memorial being planned for November 10, 2023, to honor and remember all 17 American and British lives lost in the B-17 crash in Brome.
In Loving Memory of Jack…
Jack lives on through family stories, his wartime letters and unending research into his fascinating, exceptional service with the RCAF, RAF and USAAF. An extraordinary young life tragically cut short. He is remembered with respect and affection and will never be forgotten.
Lieutenant John Edmund (USAAF O-885981) - 813 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 482 BOMB GROUP (P) US Army Air Forces Pathfinder assigned on October 29, 1943 when his detached service with the RAF 97 had been terminated. 482nd BG was the only dedicated pathfinder group in the 8th AAF "Mighty Eighth" and was formed on the 20th August 1943.
Only 13 days later on November 10th his B-17 Flying Fortress had an uncontrollable fire which caused a low altitude crash in Brome (heading for Eye airfield) not long after take off from Thorpe Abbott. Killing Jack and the entire crew of young American airmen, two passenger radar mechanics (13 in total), 4 Eye Council road workers clearing a ditch and their horse. A devastating scene to be witnessed by locals including a young housewife Rose Wingfield who was interviewed by author Ian McLachlan in 1987 for "Bomber Stories" in the chapter entitled Pathfinder.
Jack was the co-pilot that morning. New to this transfer. Previously the pilot of his own aircraft with RAF 57 & 97. A very experienced and highly trained Pathfinder pilot with at least 39 ops by then. The pilot Arthur Joseph Reynolds was instructed to land at the Eye airbase which was still being completed and didn't have emergency services. This was a non-operational flight heading back to their airbase at Alconbury after their op was scrubbed due to deteriorating weather over the target. This Pathfinder was meant to lead the 100th BG outfitted with top secret radar from the British which would allow navigating and identifying targets in frequently cloudy conditions. A constant challenge. This crash was a personal loss to so many. This specialized aircraft was intended to make a significant impact to defeat the Nazis.
A Long Island New York newspaper article in his hometown earlier that year spoke of his meticulous attention to detail with his aircraft maintenance and involvement with his mechanical crew. Truly heartbreaking after surviving at least if not more than 39 bombardment sorties from 1942-1943 to have his life end this way. New information in the book below shows that Jack was still doing missions up until the end unlike the story that was passed down about being transferred to be a flight instructor. His letter to my family postmarked October 28, 1943 says he was doing days (rather than previous nighttime raids). His transfer date to Eighth Air Force's 482 BG was October 29. He spoke of wanting to get back to night ops, the feeling of being suspended among the stars and eventually talk of coming home soon. ****Need to update this with his exact wording.
Century Bombers (The Story of the Bloody Hundredth) by Richard Le Strange (published 1989) and located at Thorpe Abbotts Museum. It says in the November 1943 chapter:
"On the 8th, the "mission to Paris was scrubbed after the planes had been airborne one hour".
Want to know more about this scrubbed operation, its mission and destination. This is either a different operation on November 8 or it's erroneous detailing the November 10th scrubbed operation that ended in the fatal crash in Brome, England.
Book says "Red Bowman writes on the 9th" (wrong date… 10th)
"Beautiful weather but no mission. Pathfinder plane (42-5793) which was to have led a mission took off about 1035 hours, and crashed at low altitude on first turn from Eye".
***See further below the detailed history of this B-17 showing its final entry was leaving RAF Thorpe Abbotts (USAAF Station 139) back to Alconbury airbase.
Jack's Medals
American - Air Medal (AM) with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
British - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) received when in RAF No. 97 Squadron, but for work while attached to RAF No. 57 Squadron. Jack and navigator and fellow American Dick Wright were decorated in September 1943 by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group at RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
TIMELINE
He was posted to RAF 57 at Bourn on March 5, 1943 and completed 29 (or 30 operations) in total. Jack and his RAF 57 crew were then posted to RAF 97 at Scampton on July 25, 1943 according to the operation logs generously compiled into an Excel sheet (by researcher Jude). Jack was reassigned about 3 months later in late October to 8th Air Force's 482 BG 813 BS in Alconbury. His father's reply letter from US Army about his son's service said 39 operations over hostile enemy territory. To be determined if it was more than that. If accurate, the remaining 10 combined from RAF 97 (3 months) and 482 BG 813 BS (less than 2 weeks) from late July to early November 1943.
DFC award approved 1 September 1943, but not published in London Gazette newspaper. (*See H.Jack Lazenby BBC People's WWII memories archive online about when Americans "Jack" Russell & Richard "Dick" Wright received their DFC at their station with squadron parade. His reliable crew story is backed up by sources and conflicts with the DFC at Buckingham Palace sensational article by a NY newspaper on 3 Nov 1943).
Partial military details which can be found on the Royal Canadian Air Force Association website by searching Medals section:
Born 30 January 1920; enlisted in RCAF, Montreal, 15 July 1941. Trained at No. 5 ITS (graduated 7 November 1941), *No. 6 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School), Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (graduated 2 January 1942) and No. 4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with Course 46: Jan 3 - April 24, 1942, graduated as Sergeant Pilot, 29 April 1942). Posted to No. 31 OTU (Operational Training Unit), 23 May 1942; overseas and attached to RAF, 20 June 1942; promoted to Flight Sergeant, 24 October 1942; to Warrant Officer 2 (WO2), 24 April 1943; commissioned 12 May 1943; transferred to American forces with Eighth Air Force in England and appointed same day as 2LT on 11 June 1943 per service record inquiry letter in reply to his father on 16 Dec 1947. Letter says he was placed on detached service with the Pathfinders, RAF, Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England, and completed 39 heavy bombardment sorties over enemy-occupied territory while serving with that organization.
Citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG. 24 Vol. 20634). Service Record Letter from Department of the Army dated 16 Dec 1947 from Col. Charles D. Carle, AGD, Commanding.
***RAF British veteran H. Jack Lazenby BBC interview referenced "Jack" Russell and Richard "Dick" Wright transfer to USAAF, but he says they still flew with same RAF crew). He says Jack Russell & Dick Wright last raid together as pilot and navigator with crew was in late September 1943. TBD. Late October is when he was transferred to USAAF from RAF 97.
#42-5793
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
KIS November 10, 1943, 8AF's first H2S radar equipped B-17 #42-5793 "Stinky" fatal crash at Brome, Suffolk, England near Eye. See below for more details and names of crew, mechanics and civilians that lost their lives.
"This officer as captain of aircraft has participated in many sorties against major targets in Germany. He has shown commendable courage and ability and his skilful leadership has evoked the confidence and admiration of his crew. Second Lieutenant Russell's loyalty and devotion to duty have set an excellent example."
FYI: RAF 31 OTU was formed in May 1941 at Debert, Nova Scotia, as part of No. 3 Training Command, to general reconnaissance crews using the Lockheed Hudson and Avro Anson. Carried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth. Wikipedia citation: Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206.
ORIGINAL SOURCES (for military info above): Canadian Air Force Association website. I am told that particular citation was copied many years ago from Awards and Decorations files at the National Archives by a gentleman and his wife with a grant.
History of plane (in fatal crash with all 13 crew names who died) from American Air Museum "user" submitted data: (written as day/month/year)
Delivered Long Beach 30/1/43; Salina 11/2/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-M] Bassingbourn 4/3/43; 325BS/92BG [NV-Y/M] Alconbury 20/4/43, the first B-17 sent to RAF Defford for installation of HSC equipment;
Transferred 813BS/482BG [PC-M] Alconbury 5/Aug/1943; detailed return from Thorpe Abbotts back to base 10/Nov/1943 with:
1. Pilot: Art Reynolds
2. Co-pilot: John Russell
3. Navigator: Sheldon McCormick
4. Bombardier: Albert Rolnick
5. Flight engineer/top turret gunner:
Amos Behl
6. Radio Operator: Bob Holmes
7. Ex Radio Operator: John May
8. Ball turret gunner: Leslie Boling
9. Waist gunner: Laurie Evans
10. Waist gunner: Bill Landers
11. Tail gunner: Andy Allison
Plus two passenger mechanics:
12. Bob Levi
13. Herman Kolousek
(13 Killed In Service)
Four civilians died:
1. Walter Clarke of Stradbroke
2. Charles Burridge of Langton Green, Eye
3. Bill Dixon, of Finningham, injured and likely died in Brome en route to Hartismere Emergency hospital in Eye on 10 Nov 1943. Probate and Commonwealth War Graves gives Brome. His horse in his charge was also killed.
4. Ernest Barker, of Wetheringsett died at Hartismere Emergency Hospital in Eye (on 12 Nov 1943)
This aircraft was 8AF's first H2S radar pathfinder, crashed on take off at Brome, Suffolk, UK; Salvaged. A/C named STINKY (which also is the name of the H2S radar).
Excerpt from website below:
The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.
Source: https://www.482nd.org/history
Personal bio from genealogy research and my family stories of their friend in 1930s-1943):
He was the son of Stanley Alexander Scott Russell of Kingston, Jamaica, BWI, and Susanna Maria Sauer of Staten Island, New York. Namesake for his paternal grandfather John Russell. They raised their family in Brooklyn then Baldwin in Nassau County, Long Island, NY. According to his father's passport, they lived six years in a row at the same residence in Brooklyn from 1918 to 1925.
Jack worked as a newspaper delivery boy and also sold magazines door-to-door. My father from 2nd to 4th grade delivered magazines for him. He got paid in blue stamps to exchange for prizes. He got a yellow and blue bicycle from this job. They were great friends and my grandfather thought the world of Jack and did everything to help him before and during the war.
Jack graduated from Baldwin High School in 1937. Steve Cooper of Baldwin another researcher saw this memorial research in September 2022 and contacted me. His late father Herb Cooper, a WWII veteran in Pacific, was at the same high school at the time. They could have known each other. Between the Steve in England and the Steve in New York, there has been amazing serendipity and research progress with this research project that started in December 2015. Since October 2022, it's been quite the journey with so many helping along the way!
Jack tried his hand at the Coast Guard Academy which didn't suit him. My grandfather hired him as a bond runner in NYC. After working for my grandfather likely after the USCG Academy, he volunteered to train in Canada in mid July 1941 in Montreal with RCAF and eventually flew on detached service with the RAF in England. He assigned to RAF No. 57 and the crew all transferred together to RAF No. 97 to train as Pathfinders. New article says he gave up home leave (on Long Island) to train as a Pathfinder bomber pilot. About autumn 1943. (Need date). While still with his longtime RAF Squadron 57 crew, he began detached service with them starting in June 1943 after being "transferred to USAAF". Different paycheck. My father told me that he did not want to transfer to USAAF despite a bigger paycheck unless he could stay with his longtime British crew (except navigator from Chicago). In June 1943, he was granted this wish. Date varies but about October 29, 1943 is when he was transferred to 8th Air Force and left his RAF crew. Dick Wright from Chicago was transferred just before, but survived the war and led a very distinguished career in USAF. It's tragic that after so many dangerous missions for more than a year with the same crew he ended up dying while heading back to his base station at Alconbury from Thorpe Abbott ending in a fire and crash killing all 13 crew, 4 civilians and a horse pulling their tumbril. Heartbreaking loss to this day. He lives on through the stories told by my father, myself, our memorial project team and perpetuated by the permanent memorial project and combined research done by many helping.
Jack wrote quite a few letters to my family throughout the war. They sent care packages to Jack. It was a great loss for my family. Jack never got the chance to marry or have children. Although in a letter after Jack died from his mother Mrs. Susan Russell to my grandfather, it says he and his crew "adopted" an English orphan and in the letter his mother says she is writing the Red Cross and having difficulty in adopting this young boy in her son's memory. She included a photograph with his full name and birth date on the back. Mrs. Russell thanks my grandfather for sending funds to support the boy. I am wondering what became of him and whether he has any children that I can share this story with. In recently found Newsday story in 1943 it says an orphan he was supporting was "brought up in Dr. Barnardo's home". I discovered it was an orphanage that became a children's welfare organization in England.
His younger brother Stanley Bruce Russell was a Commander in the United States Coast Guard. He founded the first USCG Station in Antartica. He married Dorothy Pierson Richardson. He was in the Class of 1941 at Baldwin High School. See his memorial page.
Please message me through this site if you have any additional information, edits or if you're related to any of the crew or civilians who died. I have made a virtual cemetery on my homepage on this site to connect everyone who lost their life in this crash.
If you're not active on this site, I can submit your bio details for any of them and any corrections to the other crew members' memorials. Please provide sources. 17 souls lost now all have known graves with memorials on here. 10 are managed by me and the rest by other volunteers. Some have more info than others and some details regarding crash need a few edits. I continually need to edit this page as more becomes clear with new research.
Also interested in his longtime RAF crew in No. 57 and No. 97 listed above. Making contact with other researchers and their families would be welcomed!
80TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL 10 NOV 2023:
This November 10, 2023, will be the 80th anniversary of this fatal crash in Brome. Plans are in progress to honor and remember the 17 killed. Jack Russell, the entire crew and the local civilians. To tell their stories with continued collaborative research and unraveling the details of this tragic, sad day.
Post note:
Jack's story includes an English orphan boy who Jack and his crew "adopted" and that Jack's mother talks about in a letter in 1944. Born 1939, so he was about four years old in the photo I have. It has his name Ernest A. Walden and birthdate on the back. He may still be living. What a gift to be able to share the letter and the story of his young life and the special bond that Jack, his crew and mother had with this child. Perhaps he has children or grandchildren to learn of this very special story and attend this November 10, 2023 memorial in Brome, England. Needs more research.
SOURCES: 1920 US Federal Census for Brooklyn, Kings, NY; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses for (Baldwin), Hempstead, Nassau, NY; father's passport application, brother Stanley Bruce Russell's obit, personal letters from Jack in England to his younger friend (my father) and his mother Susan M. Russell's 1 Dec 1944 letter to my grandfather and interview with my father who was a childhood friend. Additional invaluable research support by Steve Andrews (Norfolk, England).
Referenced in books:
#1
Bomber Aircrew in World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat - Bruce Barrymore Halpenny - Google Books:
Jack Russell mentioned few times in above book. p. 133 (not shown online. but the book has a photo of Jack in the cockpit a distance with fitter "Wally"), 135-137.
Page 135 has a group photo with the caption.
Crew of the Lancaster ED655 'X' X-Ray of 57 Squadron who took part of the shuttle raids, July 1943. The two Americans, pilot Jack Russell from Long Island, New York and navigator Richard Wright from Chicago, have just been commissioned Second Lieutenants in the US Army Air Corps. (unfortunately it does not say which pilot is Jack).
#2
Air Battle of the Ruhr: RAF Offensive March - July 1943 - Alan W Cooper (first published 1992) - Google Books:
"For Keith Ryrie, the Krefeld Raid was his second trip as a 2nd pilot to 2nd Lt. Jack Russell of US Army Air Corps but who was flying with the RAF in 57 Squadron. The help that Jack Russell gave Keith was of the greatest use when he eventually got his own crew."
#3
The Path Finder Force - Martin W. Bowman
(Add excerpts about Jack and his crew with Squadron 57; photo of Jack & his gunner Wally).
#4
Eighth Air Force: Bomber Stories by Ian MacLachlan & the late photographer Russell J. Zorn. The first chapter is dedicated to the crash in Brome.
Newspaper article:
Three Men Killed, 'Plane Hurls Cart 50 Yards Into Field, Western Morning News, Thursday, November 11, 1943, p. 2. (This is the plane crash that killed 2Lt John Edmund Russell a.k.a. Jack and crew and two radar mechanics and ultimately 4 civilians (not 3).
Crew member H. Jack Lazenby BBC 2005 Interviews mentioning Jack Russell:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a7972770.shtml
***BBC WWII People's War (online memories from public) 22 Dec 2005 with one of Jack's crew H. Jack Lazenby says Jack and Dick Wright were decorated by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group. This-contradicts the November 3, 1943, The Nassau Daily Review Star, Nassau County, NY newspaper story (see photo section of this memorial) that says Jack was decorated with the DFC medal by King George VI and chatted with HRH and the Queen! Lazenby story is back up by additional sources. The newspaper writer's interview with a Red Cross lady who supposedly spoke to Jack at the Red Cross Eagle Club was a sensational wartime story. That article was written about one and a half months after he was awarded the DFC. Jack Lazenby in the BBC veteran account said that a parade and investiture was in mid September. "Approved" for DFC 1 Sep 1943. A letter from Jack to my grandparents has him awarded the DFC around the third week of September 1943.
Jack did actually meet and have a few words with King George, but earlier than DFC date on May 27, 1943 in Scampton when the King and Queen visited SQ 617 aka the "Dambusters". Source below.
Source: Archive List Royal Air Force
Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story: H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story: Scampton, Background to story: Royal Air Force
Article ID: A7972770, Contributed on:
22 December 2005.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a7983237.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/69/a7798369.shtml
This RAF 57 SQ crew list and narrative is from the BBC interview link above:
Sgt Jack Russell — Pilot —
Long Island, New York
Sgt Richard Wright — Navigator —
Chicago, Illinois
Sgt Nick Golden — Bomb Aimer —
Gloucester
Sgt John Dow — Wireless Operator — Kilmarnock
Sgt Jack Lazenby — Flight Engineer —
Ockley, Surrey
Sgt Ron Marston — Rear Gunner —
Holborn, London
Sgt Wally Bark — Mid Upper Gunner —
Anfield, Liverpool
"Jack Russell and Dick Wright had joined the Canadian Air Force and the teamed up. After training in Canada they had come to Britain to continue their training on Wellington bombers on an Operational Training Unit and had crewed up with Nick Golden, John Dow and Ron Marston, and they had done a fair amount of flying training together."
Excerpt: "Then on the 27th May H.M King George VI and H.M. Queen Elizabeth came to Scampton. Although 617 Squadron was the main attraction, our Squadron 57 were in attendance and our Pilot Sergeant Jack Russell, being American, was introduced to the King. Jack told the King that he was transferring to the United States Air Force and the King smiled and said that we were both on the same side."
Source: Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story:
H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story:
St Athan & Wigsley, Background to story:
Royal Air Force, Article ID: A7798369, Contributed on: 15 December 2005.
Additional helpful info (this website used our family photo of Jack without sourcing its provenance):
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=339040
Note: 80th anniversary permanent memorial being planned for November 10, 2023, to honor and remember all 17 American and British lives lost in the B-17 crash in Brome.
In Loving Memory of Jack…
Jack lives on through family stories, his wartime letters and unending research into his fascinating, exceptional service with the RCAF, RAF and USAAF. An extraordinary young life tragically cut short. He is remembered with respect and affection and will never be forgotten.
Lieutenant John Edmund (USAAF O-885981) - 813 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 482 BOMB GROUP (P) US Army Air Forces Pathfinder assigned on October 29, 1943 when his detached service with the RAF 97 had been terminated. 482nd BG was the only dedicated pathfinder group in the 8th AAF "Mighty Eighth" and was formed on the 20th August 1943.
Only 13 days later on November 10th his B-17 Flying Fortress had an uncontrollable fire which caused a low altitude crash in Brome (heading for Eye airfield) not long after take off from Thorpe Abbott. Killing Jack and the entire crew of young American airmen, two passenger radar mechanics (13 in total), 4 Eye Council road workers clearing a ditch and their horse. A devastating scene to be witnessed by locals including a young housewife Rose Wingfield who was interviewed by author Ian McLachlan in 1987 for "Bomber Stories" in the chapter entitled Pathfinder.
Jack was the co-pilot that morning. New to this transfer. Previously the pilot of his own aircraft with RAF 57 & 97. A very experienced and highly trained Pathfinder pilot with at least 39 ops by then. The pilot Arthur Joseph Reynolds was instructed to land at the Eye airbase which was still being completed and didn't have emergency services. This was a non-operational flight heading back to their airbase at Alconbury after their op was scrubbed due to deteriorating weather over the target. This Pathfinder was meant to lead the 100th BG outfitted with top secret radar from the British which would allow navigating and identifying targets in frequently cloudy conditions. A constant challenge. This crash was a personal loss to so many. This specialized aircraft was intended to make a significant impact to defeat the Nazis.
A Long Island New York newspaper article in his hometown earlier that year spoke of his meticulous attention to detail with his aircraft maintenance and involvement with his mechanical crew. Truly heartbreaking after surviving at least if not more than 39 bombardment sorties from 1942-1943 to have his life end this way. New information in the book below shows that Jack was still doing missions up until the end unlike the story that was passed down about being transferred to be a flight instructor. His letter to my family postmarked October 28, 1943 says he was doing days (rather than previous nighttime raids). His transfer date to Eighth Air Force's 482 BG was October 29. He spoke of wanting to get back to night ops, the feeling of being suspended among the stars and eventually talk of coming home soon. ****Need to update this with his exact wording.
Century Bombers (The Story of the Bloody Hundredth) by Richard Le Strange (published 1989) and located at Thorpe Abbotts Museum. It says in the November 1943 chapter:
"On the 8th, the "mission to Paris was scrubbed after the planes had been airborne one hour".
Want to know more about this scrubbed operation, its mission and destination. This is either a different operation on November 8 or it's erroneous detailing the November 10th scrubbed operation that ended in the fatal crash in Brome, England.
Book says "Red Bowman writes on the 9th" (wrong date… 10th)
"Beautiful weather but no mission. Pathfinder plane (42-5793) which was to have led a mission took off about 1035 hours, and crashed at low altitude on first turn from Eye".
***See further below the detailed history of this B-17 showing its final entry was leaving RAF Thorpe Abbotts (USAAF Station 139) back to Alconbury airbase.
Jack's Medals
American - Air Medal (AM) with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
British - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) received when in RAF No. 97 Squadron, but for work while attached to RAF No. 57 Squadron. Jack and navigator and fellow American Dick Wright were decorated in September 1943 by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group at RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
TIMELINE
He was posted to RAF 57 at Bourn on March 5, 1943 and completed 29 (or 30 operations) in total. Jack and his RAF 57 crew were then posted to RAF 97 at Scampton on July 25, 1943 according to the operation logs generously compiled into an Excel sheet (by researcher Jude). Jack was reassigned about 3 months later in late October to 8th Air Force's 482 BG 813 BS in Alconbury. His father's reply letter from US Army about his son's service said 39 operations over hostile enemy territory. To be determined if it was more than that. If accurate, the remaining 10 combined from RAF 97 (3 months) and 482 BG 813 BS (less than 2 weeks) from late July to early November 1943.
DFC award approved 1 September 1943, but not published in London Gazette newspaper. (*See H.Jack Lazenby BBC People's WWII memories archive online about when Americans "Jack" Russell & Richard "Dick" Wright received their DFC at their station with squadron parade. His reliable crew story is backed up by sources and conflicts with the DFC at Buckingham Palace sensational article by a NY newspaper on 3 Nov 1943).
Partial military details which can be found on the Royal Canadian Air Force Association website by searching Medals section:
Born 30 January 1920; enlisted in RCAF, Montreal, 15 July 1941. Trained at No. 5 ITS (graduated 7 November 1941), *No. 6 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School), Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (graduated 2 January 1942) and No. 4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with Course 46: Jan 3 - April 24, 1942, graduated as Sergeant Pilot, 29 April 1942). Posted to No. 31 OTU (Operational Training Unit), 23 May 1942; overseas and attached to RAF, 20 June 1942; promoted to Flight Sergeant, 24 October 1942; to Warrant Officer 2 (WO2), 24 April 1943; commissioned 12 May 1943; transferred to American forces with Eighth Air Force in England and appointed same day as 2LT on 11 June 1943 per service record inquiry letter in reply to his father on 16 Dec 1947. Letter says he was placed on detached service with the Pathfinders, RAF, Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England, and completed 39 heavy bombardment sorties over enemy-occupied territory while serving with that organization.
Citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG. 24 Vol. 20634). Service Record Letter from Department of the Army dated 16 Dec 1947 from Col. Charles D. Carle, AGD, Commanding.
***RAF British veteran H. Jack Lazenby BBC interview referenced "Jack" Russell and Richard "Dick" Wright transfer to USAAF, but he says they still flew with same RAF crew). He says Jack Russell & Dick Wright last raid together as pilot and navigator with crew was in late September 1943. TBD. Late October is when he was transferred to USAAF from RAF 97.
#42-5793
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
KIS November 10, 1943, 8AF's first H2S radar equipped B-17 #42-5793 "Stinky" fatal crash at Brome, Suffolk, England near Eye. See below for more details and names of crew, mechanics and civilians that lost their lives.
"This officer as captain of aircraft has participated in many sorties against major targets in Germany. He has shown commendable courage and ability and his skilful leadership has evoked the confidence and admiration of his crew. Second Lieutenant Russell's loyalty and devotion to duty have set an excellent example."
FYI: RAF 31 OTU was formed in May 1941 at Debert, Nova Scotia, as part of No. 3 Training Command, to general reconnaissance crews using the Lockheed Hudson and Avro Anson. Carried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth. Wikipedia citation: Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206.
ORIGINAL SOURCES (for military info above): Canadian Air Force Association website. I am told that particular citation was copied many years ago from Awards and Decorations files at the National Archives by a gentleman and his wife with a grant.
History of plane (in fatal crash with all 13 crew names who died) from American Air Museum "user" submitted data: (written as day/month/year)
Delivered Long Beach 30/1/43; Salina 11/2/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-M] Bassingbourn 4/3/43; 325BS/92BG [NV-Y/M] Alconbury 20/4/43, the first B-17 sent to RAF Defford for installation of HSC equipment;
Transferred 813BS/482BG [PC-M] Alconbury 5/Aug/1943; detailed return from Thorpe Abbotts back to base 10/Nov/1943 with:
1. Pilot: Art Reynolds
2. Co-pilot: John Russell
3. Navigator: Sheldon McCormick
4. Bombardier: Albert Rolnick
5. Flight engineer/top turret gunner:
Amos Behl
6. Radio Operator: Bob Holmes
7. Ex Radio Operator: John May
8. Ball turret gunner: Leslie Boling
9. Waist gunner: Laurie Evans
10. Waist gunner: Bill Landers
11. Tail gunner: Andy Allison
Plus two passenger mechanics:
12. Bob Levi
13. Herman Kolousek
(13 Killed In Service)
Four civilians died:
1. Walter Clarke of Stradbroke
2. Charles Burridge of Langton Green, Eye
3. Bill Dixon, of Finningham, injured and likely died in Brome en route to Hartismere Emergency hospital in Eye on 10 Nov 1943. Probate and Commonwealth War Graves gives Brome. His horse in his charge was also killed.
4. Ernest Barker, of Wetheringsett died at Hartismere Emergency Hospital in Eye (on 12 Nov 1943)
This aircraft was 8AF's first H2S radar pathfinder, crashed on take off at Brome, Suffolk, UK; Salvaged. A/C named STINKY (which also is the name of the H2S radar).
Excerpt from website below:
The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.
Source: https://www.482nd.org/history
Personal bio from genealogy research and my family stories of their friend in 1930s-1943):
He was the son of Stanley Alexander Scott Russell of Kingston, Jamaica, BWI, and Susanna Maria Sauer of Staten Island, New York. Namesake for his paternal grandfather John Russell. They raised their family in Brooklyn then Baldwin in Nassau County, Long Island, NY. According to his father's passport, they lived six years in a row at the same residence in Brooklyn from 1918 to 1925.
Jack worked as a newspaper delivery boy and also sold magazines door-to-door. My father from 2nd to 4th grade delivered magazines for him. He got paid in blue stamps to exchange for prizes. He got a yellow and blue bicycle from this job. They were great friends and my grandfather thought the world of Jack and did everything to help him before and during the war.
Jack graduated from Baldwin High School in 1937. Steve Cooper of Baldwin another researcher saw this memorial research in September 2022 and contacted me. His late father Herb Cooper, a WWII veteran in Pacific, was at the same high school at the time. They could have known each other. Between the Steve in England and the Steve in New York, there has been amazing serendipity and research progress with this research project that started in December 2015. Since October 2022, it's been quite the journey with so many helping along the way!
Jack tried his hand at the Coast Guard Academy which didn't suit him. My grandfather hired him as a bond runner in NYC. After working for my grandfather likely after the USCG Academy, he volunteered to train in Canada in mid July 1941 in Montreal with RCAF and eventually flew on detached service with the RAF in England. He assigned to RAF No. 57 and the crew all transferred together to RAF No. 97 to train as Pathfinders. New article says he gave up home leave (on Long Island) to train as a Pathfinder bomber pilot. About autumn 1943. (Need date). While still with his longtime RAF Squadron 57 crew, he began detached service with them starting in June 1943 after being "transferred to USAAF". Different paycheck. My father told me that he did not want to transfer to USAAF despite a bigger paycheck unless he could stay with his longtime British crew (except navigator from Chicago). In June 1943, he was granted this wish. Date varies but about October 29, 1943 is when he was transferred to 8th Air Force and left his RAF crew. Dick Wright from Chicago was transferred just before, but survived the war and led a very distinguished career in USAF. It's tragic that after so many dangerous missions for more than a year with the same crew he ended up dying while heading back to his base station at Alconbury from Thorpe Abbott ending in a fire and crash killing all 13 crew, 4 civilians and a horse pulling their tumbril. Heartbreaking loss to this day. He lives on through the stories told by my father, myself, our memorial project team and perpetuated by the permanent memorial project and combined research done by many helping.
Jack wrote quite a few letters to my family throughout the war. They sent care packages to Jack. It was a great loss for my family. Jack never got the chance to marry or have children. Although in a letter after Jack died from his mother Mrs. Susan Russell to my grandfather, it says he and his crew "adopted" an English orphan and in the letter his mother says she is writing the Red Cross and having difficulty in adopting this young boy in her son's memory. She included a photograph with his full name and birth date on the back. Mrs. Russell thanks my grandfather for sending funds to support the boy. I am wondering what became of him and whether he has any children that I can share this story with. In recently found Newsday story in 1943 it says an orphan he was supporting was "brought up in Dr. Barnardo's home". I discovered it was an orphanage that became a children's welfare organization in England.
His younger brother Stanley Bruce Russell was a Commander in the United States Coast Guard. He founded the first USCG Station in Antartica. He married Dorothy Pierson Richardson. He was in the Class of 1941 at Baldwin High School. See his memorial page.
Please message me through this site if you have any additional information, edits or if you're related to any of the crew or civilians who died. I have made a virtual cemetery on my homepage on this site to connect everyone who lost their life in this crash.
If you're not active on this site, I can submit your bio details for any of them and any corrections to the other crew members' memorials. Please provide sources. 17 souls lost now all have known graves with memorials on here. 10 are managed by me and the rest by other volunteers. Some have more info than others and some details regarding crash need a few edits. I continually need to edit this page as more becomes clear with new research.
Also interested in his longtime RAF crew in No. 57 and No. 97 listed above. Making contact with other researchers and their families would be welcomed!
80TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL 10 NOV 2023:
This November 10, 2023, will be the 80th anniversary of this fatal crash in Brome. Plans are in progress to honor and remember the 17 killed. Jack Russell, the entire crew and the local civilians. To tell their stories with continued collaborative research and unraveling the details of this tragic, sad day.
Post note:
Jack's story includes an English orphan boy who Jack and his crew "adopted" and that Jack's mother talks about in a letter in 1944. Born 1939, so he was about four years old in the photo I have. It has his name Ernest A. Walden and birthdate on the back. He may still be living. What a gift to be able to share the letter and the story of his young life and the special bond that Jack, his crew and mother had with this child. Perhaps he has children or grandchildren to learn of this very special story and attend this November 10, 2023 memorial in Brome, England. Needs more research.
SOURCES: 1920 US Federal Census for Brooklyn, Kings, NY; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses for (Baldwin), Hempstead, Nassau, NY; father's passport application, brother Stanley Bruce Russell's obit, personal letters from Jack in England to his younger friend (my father) and his mother Susan M. Russell's 1 Dec 1944 letter to my grandfather and interview with my father who was a childhood friend. Additional invaluable research support by Steve Andrews (Norfolk, England).
Referenced in books:
#1
Bomber Aircrew in World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat - Bruce Barrymore Halpenny - Google Books:
Jack Russell mentioned few times in above book. p. 133 (not shown online. but the book has a photo of Jack in the cockpit a distance with fitter "Wally"), 135-137.
Page 135 has a group photo with the caption.
Crew of the Lancaster ED655 'X' X-Ray of 57 Squadron who took part of the shuttle raids, July 1943. The two Americans, pilot Jack Russell from Long Island, New York and navigator Richard Wright from Chicago, have just been commissioned Second Lieutenants in the US Army Air Corps. (unfortunately it does not say which pilot is Jack).
#2
Air Battle of the Ruhr: RAF Offensive March - July 1943 - Alan W Cooper (first published 1992) - Google Books:
"For Keith Ryrie, the Krefeld Raid was his second trip as a 2nd pilot to 2nd Lt. Jack Russell of US Army Air Corps but who was flying with the RAF in 57 Squadron. The help that Jack Russell gave Keith was of the greatest use when he eventually got his own crew."
#3
The Path Finder Force - Martin W. Bowman
(Add excerpts about Jack and his crew with Squadron 57; photo of Jack & his gunner Wally).
#4
Eighth Air Force: Bomber Stories by Ian MacLachlan & the late photographer Russell J. Zorn. The first chapter is dedicated to the crash in Brome.
Newspaper article:
Three Men Killed, 'Plane Hurls Cart 50 Yards Into Field, Western Morning News, Thursday, November 11, 1943, p. 2. (This is the plane crash that killed 2Lt John Edmund Russell a.k.a. Jack and crew and two radar mechanics and ultimately 4 civilians (not 3).
Crew member H. Jack Lazenby BBC 2005 Interviews mentioning Jack Russell:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a7972770.shtml
***BBC WWII People's War (online memories from public) 22 Dec 2005 with one of Jack's crew H. Jack Lazenby says Jack and Dick Wright were decorated by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group. This-contradicts the November 3, 1943, The Nassau Daily Review Star, Nassau County, NY newspaper story (see photo section of this memorial) that says Jack was decorated with the DFC medal by King George VI and chatted with HRH and the Queen! Lazenby story is back up by additional sources. The newspaper writer's interview with a Red Cross lady who supposedly spoke to Jack at the Red Cross Eagle Club was a sensational wartime story. That article was written about one and a half months after he was awarded the DFC. Jack Lazenby in the BBC veteran account said that a parade and investiture was in mid September. "Approved" for DFC 1 Sep 1943. A letter from Jack to my grandparents has him awarded the DFC around the third week of September 1943.
Jack did actually meet and have a few words with King George, but earlier than DFC date on May 27, 1943 in Scampton when the King and Queen visited SQ 617 aka the "Dambusters". Source below.
Source: Archive List Royal Air Force
Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story: H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story: Scampton, Background to story: Royal Air Force
Article ID: A7972770, Contributed on:
22 December 2005.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a7983237.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/69/a7798369.shtml
This RAF 57 SQ crew list and narrative is from the BBC interview link above:
Sgt Jack Russell — Pilot —
Long Island, New York
Sgt Richard Wright — Navigator —
Chicago, Illinois
Sgt Nick Golden — Bomb Aimer —
Gloucester
Sgt John Dow — Wireless Operator — Kilmarnock
Sgt Jack Lazenby — Flight Engineer —
Ockley, Surrey
Sgt Ron Marston — Rear Gunner —
Holborn, London
Sgt Wally Bark — Mid Upper Gunner —
Anfield, Liverpool
"Jack Russell and Dick Wright had joined the Canadian Air Force and the teamed up. After training in Canada they had come to Britain to continue their training on Wellington bombers on an Operational Training Unit and had crewed up with Nick Golden, John Dow and Ron Marston, and they had done a fair amount of flying training together."
Excerpt: "Then on the 27th May H.M King George VI and H.M. Queen Elizabeth came to Scampton. Although 617 Squadron was the main attraction, our Squadron 57 were in attendance and our Pilot Sergeant Jack Russell, being American, was introduced to the King. Jack told the King that he was transferring to the United States Air Force and the King smiled and said that we were both on the same side."
Source: Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story:
H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story:
St Athan & Wigsley, Background to story:
Royal Air Force, Article ID: A7798369, Contributed on: 15 December 2005.
Additional helpful info (this website used our family photo of Jack without sourcing its provenance):
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=339040
Last Edited: July 12, 2023
Note: 80th anniversary permanent memorial being planned for November 10, 2023, to honor and remember all 17 American and British lives lost in the B-17 crash in Brome.
In Loving Memory of Jack…
Jack lives on through family stories, his wartime letters and unending research into his fascinating, exceptional service with the RCAF, RAF and USAAF. An extraordinary young life tragically cut short. He is remembered with respect and affection and will never be forgotten.
Lieutenant John Edmund (USAAF O-885981) - 813 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 482 BOMB GROUP (P) US Army Air Forces Pathfinder assigned on October 29, 1943 when his detached service with the RAF 97 had been terminated. 482nd BG was the only dedicated pathfinder group in the 8th AAF "Mighty Eighth" and was formed on the 20th August 1943.
Only 13 days later on November 10th his B-17 Flying Fortress had an uncontrollable fire which caused a low altitude crash in Brome (heading for Eye airfield) not long after take off from Thorpe Abbott. Killing Jack and the entire crew of young American airmen, two passenger radar mechanics (13 in total), 4 Eye Council road workers clearing a ditch and their horse. A devastating scene to be witnessed by locals including a young housewife Rose Wingfield who was interviewed by author Ian McLachlan in 1987 for "Bomber Stories" in the chapter entitled Pathfinder.
Jack was the co-pilot that morning. New to this transfer. Previously the pilot of his own aircraft with RAF 57 & 97. A very experienced and highly trained Pathfinder pilot with at least 39 ops by then. The pilot Arthur Joseph Reynolds was instructed to land at the Eye airbase which was still being completed and didn't have emergency services. This was a non-operational flight heading back to their airbase at Alconbury after their op was scrubbed due to deteriorating weather over the target. This Pathfinder was meant to lead the 100th BG outfitted with top secret radar from the British which would allow navigating and identifying targets in frequently cloudy conditions. A constant challenge. This crash was a personal loss to so many. This specialized aircraft was intended to make a significant impact to defeat the Nazis.
A Long Island New York newspaper article in his hometown earlier that year spoke of his meticulous attention to detail with his aircraft maintenance and involvement with his mechanical crew. Truly heartbreaking after surviving at least if not more than 39 bombardment sorties from 1942-1943 to have his life end this way. New information in the book below shows that Jack was still doing missions up until the end unlike the story that was passed down about being transferred to be a flight instructor. His letter to my family postmarked October 28, 1943 says he was doing days (rather than previous nighttime raids). His transfer date to Eighth Air Force's 482 BG was October 29. He spoke of wanting to get back to night ops, the feeling of being suspended among the stars and eventually talk of coming home soon. ****Need to update this with his exact wording.
Century Bombers (The Story of the Bloody Hundredth) by Richard Le Strange (published 1989) and located at Thorpe Abbotts Museum. It says in the November 1943 chapter:
"On the 8th, the "mission to Paris was scrubbed after the planes had been airborne one hour".
Want to know more about this scrubbed operation, its mission and destination. This is either a different operation on November 8 or it's erroneous detailing the November 10th scrubbed operation that ended in the fatal crash in Brome, England.
Book says "Red Bowman writes on the 9th" (wrong date… 10th)
"Beautiful weather but no mission. Pathfinder plane (42-5793) which was to have led a mission took off about 1035 hours, and crashed at low altitude on first turn from Eye".
***See further below the detailed history of this B-17 showing its final entry was leaving RAF Thorpe Abbotts (USAAF Station 139) back to Alconbury airbase.
Jack's Medals
American - Air Medal (AM) with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
British - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) received when in RAF No. 97 Squadron, but for work while attached to RAF No. 57 Squadron. Jack and navigator and fellow American Dick Wright were decorated in September 1943 by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group at RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
TIMELINE
He was posted to RAF 57 at Bourn on March 5, 1943 and completed 29 (or 30 operations) in total. Jack and his RAF 57 crew were then posted to RAF 97 at Scampton on July 25, 1943 according to the operation logs generously compiled into an Excel sheet (by researcher Jude). Jack was reassigned about 3 months later in late October to 8th Air Force's 482 BG 813 BS in Alconbury. His father's reply letter from US Army about his son's service said 39 operations over hostile enemy territory. To be determined if it was more than that. If accurate, the remaining 10 combined from RAF 97 (3 months) and 482 BG 813 BS (less than 2 weeks) from late July to early November 1943.
DFC award approved 1 September 1943, but not published in London Gazette newspaper. (*See H.Jack Lazenby BBC People's WWII memories archive online about when Americans "Jack" Russell & Richard "Dick" Wright received their DFC at their station with squadron parade. His reliable crew story is backed up by sources and conflicts with the DFC at Buckingham Palace sensational article by a NY newspaper on 3 Nov 1943).
Partial military details which can be found on the Royal Canadian Air Force Association website by searching Medals section:
Born 30 January 1920; enlisted in RCAF, Montreal, 15 July 1941. Trained at No. 5 ITS (graduated 7 November 1941), *No. 6 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School), Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (graduated 2 January 1942) and No. 4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with Course 46: Jan 3 - April 24, 1942, graduated as Sergeant Pilot, 29 April 1942). Posted to No. 31 OTU (Operational Training Unit), 23 May 1942; overseas and attached to RAF, 20 June 1942; promoted to Flight Sergeant, 24 October 1942; to Warrant Officer 2 (WO2), 24 April 1943; commissioned 12 May 1943; transferred to American forces with Eighth Air Force in England and appointed same day as 2LT on 11 June 1943 per service record inquiry letter in reply to his father on 16 Dec 1947. Letter says he was placed on detached service with the Pathfinders, RAF, Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England, and completed 39 heavy bombardment sorties over enemy-occupied territory while serving with that organization.
Citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG. 24 Vol. 20634). Service Record Letter from Department of the Army dated 16 Dec 1947 from Col. Charles D. Carle, AGD, Commanding.
***RAF British veteran H. Jack Lazenby BBC interview referenced "Jack" Russell and Richard "Dick" Wright transfer to USAAF, but he says they still flew with same RAF crew). He says Jack Russell & Dick Wright last raid together as pilot and navigator with crew was in late September 1943. TBD. Late October is when he was transferred to USAAF from RAF 97.
#42-5793
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
KIS November 10, 1943, 8AF's first H2S radar equipped B-17 #42-5793 "Stinky" fatal crash at Brome, Suffolk, England near Eye. See below for more details and names of crew, mechanics and civilians that lost their lives.
"This officer as captain of aircraft has participated in many sorties against major targets in Germany. He has shown commendable courage and ability and his skilful leadership has evoked the confidence and admiration of his crew. Second Lieutenant Russell's loyalty and devotion to duty have set an excellent example."
FYI: RAF 31 OTU was formed in May 1941 at Debert, Nova Scotia, as part of No. 3 Training Command, to general reconnaissance crews using the Lockheed Hudson and Avro Anson. Carried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth. Wikipedia citation: Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206.
ORIGINAL SOURCES (for military info above): Canadian Air Force Association website. I am told that particular citation was copied many years ago from Awards and Decorations files at the National Archives by a gentleman and his wife with a grant.
History of plane (in fatal crash with all 13 crew names who died) from American Air Museum "user" submitted data: (written as day/month/year)
Delivered Long Beach 30/1/43; Salina 11/2/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-M] Bassingbourn 4/3/43; 325BS/92BG [NV-Y/M] Alconbury 20/4/43, the first B-17 sent to RAF Defford for installation of HSC equipment;
Transferred 813BS/482BG [PC-M] Alconbury 5/Aug/1943; detailed return from Thorpe Abbotts back to base 10/Nov/1943 with:
1. Pilot: Art Reynolds
2. Co-pilot: John Russell
3. Navigator: Sheldon McCormick
4. Bombardier: Albert Rolnick
5. Flight engineer/top turret gunner:
Amos Behl
6. Radio Operator: Bob Holmes
7. Ex Radio Operator: John May
8. Ball turret gunner: Leslie Boling
9. Waist gunner: Laurie Evans
10. Waist gunner: Bill Landers
11. Tail gunner: Andy Allison
Plus two passenger mechanics:
12. Bob Levi
13. Herman Kolousek
(13 Killed In Service)
Four civilians died:
1. Walter Clarke of Stradbroke
2. Charles Burridge of Langton Green, Eye
3. Bill Dixon, of Finningham, injured and likely died in Brome en route to Hartismere Emergency hospital in Eye on 10 Nov 1943. Probate and Commonwealth War Graves gives Brome. His horse in his charge was also killed.
4. Ernest Barker, of Wetheringsett died at Hartismere Emergency Hospital in Eye (on 12 Nov 1943)
This aircraft was 8AF's first H2S radar pathfinder, crashed on take off at Brome, Suffolk, UK; Salvaged. A/C named STINKY (which also is the name of the H2S radar).
Excerpt from website below:
The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.
Source: https://www.482nd.org/history
Personal bio from genealogy research and my family stories of their friend in 1930s-1943):
He was the son of Stanley Alexander Scott Russell of Kingston, Jamaica, BWI, and Susanna Maria Sauer of Staten Island, New York. Namesake for his paternal grandfather John Russell. They raised their family in Brooklyn then Baldwin in Nassau County, Long Island, NY. According to his father's passport, they lived six years in a row at the same residence in Brooklyn from 1918 to 1925.
Jack worked as a newspaper delivery boy and also sold magazines door-to-door. My father from 2nd to 4th grade delivered magazines for him. He got paid in blue stamps to exchange for prizes. He got a yellow and blue bicycle from this job. They were great friends and my grandfather thought the world of Jack and did everything to help him before and during the war.
Jack graduated from Baldwin High School in 1937. Steve Cooper of Baldwin another researcher saw this memorial research in September 2022 and contacted me. His late father Herb Cooper, a WWII veteran in Pacific, was at the same high school at the time. They could have known each other. Between the Steve in England and the Steve in New York, there has been amazing serendipity and research progress with this research project that started in December 2015. Since October 2022, it's been quite the journey with so many helping along the way!
Jack tried his hand at the Coast Guard Academy which didn't suit him. My grandfather hired him as a bond runner in NYC. After working for my grandfather likely after the USCG Academy, he volunteered to train in Canada in mid July 1941 in Montreal with RCAF and eventually flew on detached service with the RAF in England. He assigned to RAF No. 57 and the crew all transferred together to RAF No. 97 to train as Pathfinders. New article says he gave up home leave (on Long Island) to train as a Pathfinder bomber pilot. About autumn 1943. (Need date). While still with his longtime RAF Squadron 57 crew, he began detached service with them starting in June 1943 after being "transferred to USAAF". Different paycheck. My father told me that he did not want to transfer to USAAF despite a bigger paycheck unless he could stay with his longtime British crew (except navigator from Chicago). In June 1943, he was granted this wish. Date varies but about October 29, 1943 is when he was transferred to 8th Air Force and left his RAF crew. Dick Wright from Chicago was transferred just before, but survived the war and led a very distinguished career in USAF. It's tragic that after so many dangerous missions for more than a year with the same crew he ended up dying while heading back to his base station at Alconbury from Thorpe Abbott ending in a fire and crash killing all 13 crew, 4 civilians and a horse pulling their tumbril. Heartbreaking loss to this day. He lives on through the stories told by my father, myself, our memorial project team and perpetuated by the permanent memorial project and combined research done by many helping.
Jack wrote quite a few letters to my family throughout the war. They sent care packages to Jack. It was a great loss for my family. Jack never got the chance to marry or have children. Although in a letter after Jack died from his mother Mrs. Susan Russell to my grandfather, it says he and his crew "adopted" an English orphan and in the letter his mother says she is writing the Red Cross and having difficulty in adopting this young boy in her son's memory. She included a photograph with his full name and birth date on the back. Mrs. Russell thanks my grandfather for sending funds to support the boy. I am wondering what became of him and whether he has any children that I can share this story with. In recently found Newsday story in 1943 it says an orphan he was supporting was "brought up in Dr. Barnardo's home". I discovered it was an orphanage that became a children's welfare organization in England.
His younger brother Stanley Bruce Russell was a Commander in the United States Coast Guard. He founded the first USCG Station in Antartica. He married Dorothy Pierson Richardson. He was in the Class of 1941 at Baldwin High School. See his memorial page.
Please message me through this site if you have any additional information, edits or if you're related to any of the crew or civilians who died. I have made a virtual cemetery on my homepage on this site to connect everyone who lost their life in this crash.
If you're not active on this site, I can submit your bio details for any of them and any corrections to the other crew members' memorials. Please provide sources. 17 souls lost now all have known graves with memorials on here. 10 are managed by me and the rest by other volunteers. Some have more info than others and some details regarding crash need a few edits. I continually need to edit this page as more becomes clear with new research.
Also interested in his longtime RAF crew in No. 57 and No. 97 listed above. Making contact with other researchers and their families would be welcomed!
80TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL 10 NOV 2023:
This November 10, 2023, will be the 80th anniversary of this fatal crash in Brome. Plans are in progress to honor and remember the 17 killed. Jack Russell, the entire crew and the local civilians. To tell their stories with continued collaborative research and unraveling the details of this tragic, sad day.
Post note:
Jack's story includes an English orphan boy who Jack and his crew "adopted" and that Jack's mother talks about in a letter in 1944. Born 1939, so he was about four years old in the photo I have. It has his name Ernest A. Walden and birthdate on the back. He may still be living. What a gift to be able to share the letter and the story of his young life and the special bond that Jack, his crew and mother had with this child. Perhaps he has children or grandchildren to learn of this very special story and attend this November 10, 2023 memorial in Brome, England. Needs more research.
SOURCES: 1920 US Federal Census for Brooklyn, Kings, NY; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses for (Baldwin), Hempstead, Nassau, NY; father's passport application, brother Stanley Bruce Russell's obit, personal letters from Jack in England to his younger friend (my father) and his mother Susan M. Russell's 1 Dec 1944 letter to my grandfather and interview with my father who was a childhood friend. Additional invaluable research support by Steve Andrews (Norfolk, England).
Referenced in books:
#1
Bomber Aircrew in World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat - Bruce Barrymore Halpenny - Google Books:
Jack Russell mentioned few times in above book. p. 133 (not shown online. but the book has a photo of Jack in the cockpit a distance with fitter "Wally"), 135-137.
Page 135 has a group photo with the caption.
Crew of the Lancaster ED655 'X' X-Ray of 57 Squadron who took part of the shuttle raids, July 1943. The two Americans, pilot Jack Russell from Long Island, New York and navigator Richard Wright from Chicago, have just been commissioned Second Lieutenants in the US Army Air Corps. (unfortunately it does not say which pilot is Jack).
#2
Air Battle of the Ruhr: RAF Offensive March - July 1943 - Alan W Cooper (first published 1992) - Google Books:
"For Keith Ryrie, the Krefeld Raid was his second trip as a 2nd pilot to 2nd Lt. Jack Russell of US Army Air Corps but who was flying with the RAF in 57 Squadron. The help that Jack Russell gave Keith was of the greatest use when he eventually got his own crew."
#3
The Path Finder Force - Martin W. Bowman
(Add excerpts about Jack and his crew with Squadron 57; photo of Jack & his gunner Wally).
#4
Eighth Air Force: Bomber Stories by Ian MacLachlan & the late photographer Russell J. Zorn. The first chapter is dedicated to the crash in Brome.
Newspaper article:
Three Men Killed, 'Plane Hurls Cart 50 Yards Into Field, Western Morning News, Thursday, November 11, 1943, p. 2. (This is the plane crash that killed 2Lt John Edmund Russell a.k.a. Jack and crew and two radar mechanics and ultimately 4 civilians (not 3).
Crew member H. Jack Lazenby BBC 2005 Interviews mentioning Jack Russell:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a7972770.shtml
***BBC WWII People's War (online memories from public) 22 Dec 2005 with one of Jack's crew H. Jack Lazenby says Jack and Dick Wright were decorated by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group. This-contradicts the November 3, 1943, The Nassau Daily Review Star, Nassau County, NY newspaper story (see photo section of this memorial) that says Jack was decorated with the DFC medal by King George VI and chatted with HRH and the Queen! Lazenby story is back up by additional sources. The newspaper writer's interview with a Red Cross lady who supposedly spoke to Jack at the Red Cross Eagle Club was a sensational wartime story. That article was written about one and a half months after he was awarded the DFC. Jack Lazenby in the BBC veteran account said that a parade and investiture was in mid September. "Approved" for DFC 1 Sep 1943. A letter from Jack to my grandparents has him awarded the DFC around the third week of September 1943.
Jack did actually meet and have a few words with King George, but earlier than DFC date on May 27, 1943 in Scampton when the King and Queen visited SQ 617 aka the "Dambusters". Source below.
Source: Archive List Royal Air Force
Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story: H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story: Scampton, Background to story: Royal Air Force
Article ID: A7972770, Contributed on:
22 December 2005.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a7983237.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/69/a7798369.shtml
This RAF 57 SQ crew list and narrative is from the BBC interview link above:
Sgt Jack Russell — Pilot —
Long Island, New York
Sgt Richard Wright — Navigator —
Chicago, Illinois
Sgt Nick Golden — Bomb Aimer —
Gloucester
Sgt John Dow — Wireless Operator — Kilmarnock
Sgt Jack Lazenby — Flight Engineer —
Ockley, Surrey
Sgt Ron Marston — Rear Gunner —
Holborn, London
Sgt Wally Bark — Mid Upper Gunner —
Anfield, Liverpool
"Jack Russell and Dick Wright had joined the Canadian Air Force and the teamed up. After training in Canada they had come to Britain to continue their training on Wellington bombers on an Operational Training Unit and had crewed up with Nick Golden, John Dow and Ron Marston, and they had done a fair amount of flying training together."
Excerpt: "Then on the 27th May H.M King George VI and H.M. Queen Elizabeth came to Scampton. Although 617 Squadron was the main attraction, our Squadron 57 were in attendance and our Pilot Sergeant Jack Russell, being American, was introduced to the King. Jack told the King that he was transferring to the United States Air Force and the King smiled and said that we were both on the same side."
Source: Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story:
H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story:
St Athan & Wigsley, Background to story:
Royal Air Force, Article ID: A7798369, Contributed on: 15 December 2005.
Additional helpful info (this website used our family photo of Jack without sourcing its provenance):
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=339040
Note: 80th anniversary permanent memorial being planned for November 10, 2023, to honor and remember all 17 American and British lives lost in the B-17 crash in Brome.
In Loving Memory of Jack…
Jack lives on through family stories, his wartime letters and unending research into his fascinating, exceptional service with the RCAF, RAF and USAAF. An extraordinary young life tragically cut short. He is remembered with respect and affection and will never be forgotten.
Lieutenant John Edmund (USAAF O-885981) - 813 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 482 BOMB GROUP (P) US Army Air Forces Pathfinder assigned on October 29, 1943 when his detached service with the RAF 97 had been terminated. 482nd BG was the only dedicated pathfinder group in the 8th AAF "Mighty Eighth" and was formed on the 20th August 1943.
Only 13 days later on November 10th his B-17 Flying Fortress had an uncontrollable fire which caused a low altitude crash in Brome (heading for Eye airfield) not long after take off from Thorpe Abbott. Killing Jack and the entire crew of young American airmen, two passenger radar mechanics (13 in total), 4 Eye Council road workers clearing a ditch and their horse. A devastating scene to be witnessed by locals including a young housewife Rose Wingfield who was interviewed by author Ian McLachlan in 1987 for "Bomber Stories" in the chapter entitled Pathfinder.
Jack was the co-pilot that morning. New to this transfer. Previously the pilot of his own aircraft with RAF 57 & 97. A very experienced and highly trained Pathfinder pilot with at least 39 ops by then. The pilot Arthur Joseph Reynolds was instructed to land at the Eye airbase which was still being completed and didn't have emergency services. This was a non-operational flight heading back to their airbase at Alconbury after their op was scrubbed due to deteriorating weather over the target. This Pathfinder was meant to lead the 100th BG outfitted with top secret radar from the British which would allow navigating and identifying targets in frequently cloudy conditions. A constant challenge. This crash was a personal loss to so many. This specialized aircraft was intended to make a significant impact to defeat the Nazis.
A Long Island New York newspaper article in his hometown earlier that year spoke of his meticulous attention to detail with his aircraft maintenance and involvement with his mechanical crew. Truly heartbreaking after surviving at least if not more than 39 bombardment sorties from 1942-1943 to have his life end this way. New information in the book below shows that Jack was still doing missions up until the end unlike the story that was passed down about being transferred to be a flight instructor. His letter to my family postmarked October 28, 1943 says he was doing days (rather than previous nighttime raids). His transfer date to Eighth Air Force's 482 BG was October 29. He spoke of wanting to get back to night ops, the feeling of being suspended among the stars and eventually talk of coming home soon. ****Need to update this with his exact wording.
Century Bombers (The Story of the Bloody Hundredth) by Richard Le Strange (published 1989) and located at Thorpe Abbotts Museum. It says in the November 1943 chapter:
"On the 8th, the "mission to Paris was scrubbed after the planes had been airborne one hour".
Want to know more about this scrubbed operation, its mission and destination. This is either a different operation on November 8 or it's erroneous detailing the November 10th scrubbed operation that ended in the fatal crash in Brome, England.
Book says "Red Bowman writes on the 9th" (wrong date… 10th)
"Beautiful weather but no mission. Pathfinder plane (42-5793) which was to have led a mission took off about 1035 hours, and crashed at low altitude on first turn from Eye".
***See further below the detailed history of this B-17 showing its final entry was leaving RAF Thorpe Abbotts (USAAF Station 139) back to Alconbury airbase.
Jack's Medals
American - Air Medal (AM) with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
British - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) received when in RAF No. 97 Squadron, but for work while attached to RAF No. 57 Squadron. Jack and navigator and fellow American Dick Wright were decorated in September 1943 by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group at RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England.
TIMELINE
He was posted to RAF 57 at Bourn on March 5, 1943 and completed 29 (or 30 operations) in total. Jack and his RAF 57 crew were then posted to RAF 97 at Scampton on July 25, 1943 according to the operation logs generously compiled into an Excel sheet (by researcher Jude). Jack was reassigned about 3 months later in late October to 8th Air Force's 482 BG 813 BS in Alconbury. His father's reply letter from US Army about his son's service said 39 operations over hostile enemy territory. To be determined if it was more than that. If accurate, the remaining 10 combined from RAF 97 (3 months) and 482 BG 813 BS (less than 2 weeks) from late July to early November 1943.
DFC award approved 1 September 1943, but not published in London Gazette newspaper. (*See H.Jack Lazenby BBC People's WWII memories archive online about when Americans "Jack" Russell & Richard "Dick" Wright received their DFC at their station with squadron parade. His reliable crew story is backed up by sources and conflicts with the DFC at Buckingham Palace sensational article by a NY newspaper on 3 Nov 1943).
Partial military details which can be found on the Royal Canadian Air Force Association website by searching Medals section:
Born 30 January 1920; enlisted in RCAF, Montreal, 15 July 1941. Trained at No. 5 ITS (graduated 7 November 1941), *No. 6 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School), Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (graduated 2 January 1942) and No. 4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with Course 46: Jan 3 - April 24, 1942, graduated as Sergeant Pilot, 29 April 1942). Posted to No. 31 OTU (Operational Training Unit), 23 May 1942; overseas and attached to RAF, 20 June 1942; promoted to Flight Sergeant, 24 October 1942; to Warrant Officer 2 (WO2), 24 April 1943; commissioned 12 May 1943; transferred to American forces with Eighth Air Force in England and appointed same day as 2LT on 11 June 1943 per service record inquiry letter in reply to his father on 16 Dec 1947. Letter says he was placed on detached service with the Pathfinders, RAF, Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England, and completed 39 heavy bombardment sorties over enemy-occupied territory while serving with that organization.
Citation in DHist file 181.009 D.3051 (National Archives of Canada RG. 24 Vol. 20634). Service Record Letter from Department of the Army dated 16 Dec 1947 from Col. Charles D. Carle, AGD, Commanding.
***RAF British veteran H. Jack Lazenby BBC interview referenced "Jack" Russell and Richard "Dick" Wright transfer to USAAF, but he says they still flew with same RAF crew). He says Jack Russell & Dick Wright last raid together as pilot and navigator with crew was in late September 1943. TBD. Late October is when he was transferred to USAAF from RAF 97.
#42-5793
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
KIS November 10, 1943, 8AF's first H2S radar equipped B-17 #42-5793 "Stinky" fatal crash at Brome, Suffolk, England near Eye. See below for more details and names of crew, mechanics and civilians that lost their lives.
"This officer as captain of aircraft has participated in many sorties against major targets in Germany. He has shown commendable courage and ability and his skilful leadership has evoked the confidence and admiration of his crew. Second Lieutenant Russell's loyalty and devotion to duty have set an excellent example."
FYI: RAF 31 OTU was formed in May 1941 at Debert, Nova Scotia, as part of No. 3 Training Command, to general reconnaissance crews using the Lockheed Hudson and Avro Anson. Carried out operational patrols in the Western Atlantic from Dartmouth. Wikipedia citation: Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206.
ORIGINAL SOURCES (for military info above): Canadian Air Force Association website. I am told that particular citation was copied many years ago from Awards and Decorations files at the National Archives by a gentleman and his wife with a grant.
History of plane (in fatal crash with all 13 crew names who died) from American Air Museum "user" submitted data: (written as day/month/year)
Delivered Long Beach 30/1/43; Salina 11/2/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-M] Bassingbourn 4/3/43; 325BS/92BG [NV-Y/M] Alconbury 20/4/43, the first B-17 sent to RAF Defford for installation of HSC equipment;
Transferred 813BS/482BG [PC-M] Alconbury 5/Aug/1943; detailed return from Thorpe Abbotts back to base 10/Nov/1943 with:
1. Pilot: Art Reynolds
2. Co-pilot: John Russell
3. Navigator: Sheldon McCormick
4. Bombardier: Albert Rolnick
5. Flight engineer/top turret gunner:
Amos Behl
6. Radio Operator: Bob Holmes
7. Ex Radio Operator: John May
8. Ball turret gunner: Leslie Boling
9. Waist gunner: Laurie Evans
10. Waist gunner: Bill Landers
11. Tail gunner: Andy Allison
Plus two passenger mechanics:
12. Bob Levi
13. Herman Kolousek
(13 Killed In Service)
Four civilians died:
1. Walter Clarke of Stradbroke
2. Charles Burridge of Langton Green, Eye
3. Bill Dixon, of Finningham, injured and likely died in Brome en route to Hartismere Emergency hospital in Eye on 10 Nov 1943. Probate and Commonwealth War Graves gives Brome. His horse in his charge was also killed.
4. Ernest Barker, of Wetheringsett died at Hartismere Emergency Hospital in Eye (on 12 Nov 1943)
This aircraft was 8AF's first H2S radar pathfinder, crashed on take off at Brome, Suffolk, UK; Salvaged. A/C named STINKY (which also is the name of the H2S radar).
Excerpt from website below:
The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.
Source: https://www.482nd.org/history
Personal bio from genealogy research and my family stories of their friend in 1930s-1943):
He was the son of Stanley Alexander Scott Russell of Kingston, Jamaica, BWI, and Susanna Maria Sauer of Staten Island, New York. Namesake for his paternal grandfather John Russell. They raised their family in Brooklyn then Baldwin in Nassau County, Long Island, NY. According to his father's passport, they lived six years in a row at the same residence in Brooklyn from 1918 to 1925.
Jack worked as a newspaper delivery boy and also sold magazines door-to-door. My father from 2nd to 4th grade delivered magazines for him. He got paid in blue stamps to exchange for prizes. He got a yellow and blue bicycle from this job. They were great friends and my grandfather thought the world of Jack and did everything to help him before and during the war.
Jack graduated from Baldwin High School in 1937. Steve Cooper of Baldwin another researcher saw this memorial research in September 2022 and contacted me. His late father Herb Cooper, a WWII veteran in Pacific, was at the same high school at the time. They could have known each other. Between the Steve in England and the Steve in New York, there has been amazing serendipity and research progress with this research project that started in December 2015. Since October 2022, it's been quite the journey with so many helping along the way!
Jack tried his hand at the Coast Guard Academy which didn't suit him. My grandfather hired him as a bond runner in NYC. After working for my grandfather likely after the USCG Academy, he volunteered to train in Canada in mid July 1941 in Montreal with RCAF and eventually flew on detached service with the RAF in England. He assigned to RAF No. 57 and the crew all transferred together to RAF No. 97 to train as Pathfinders. New article says he gave up home leave (on Long Island) to train as a Pathfinder bomber pilot. About autumn 1943. (Need date). While still with his longtime RAF Squadron 57 crew, he began detached service with them starting in June 1943 after being "transferred to USAAF". Different paycheck. My father told me that he did not want to transfer to USAAF despite a bigger paycheck unless he could stay with his longtime British crew (except navigator from Chicago). In June 1943, he was granted this wish. Date varies but about October 29, 1943 is when he was transferred to 8th Air Force and left his RAF crew. Dick Wright from Chicago was transferred just before, but survived the war and led a very distinguished career in USAF. It's tragic that after so many dangerous missions for more than a year with the same crew he ended up dying while heading back to his base station at Alconbury from Thorpe Abbott ending in a fire and crash killing all 13 crew, 4 civilians and a horse pulling their tumbril. Heartbreaking loss to this day. He lives on through the stories told by my father, myself, our memorial project team and perpetuated by the permanent memorial project and combined research done by many helping.
Jack wrote quite a few letters to my family throughout the war. They sent care packages to Jack. It was a great loss for my family. Jack never got the chance to marry or have children. Although in a letter after Jack died from his mother Mrs. Susan Russell to my grandfather, it says he and his crew "adopted" an English orphan and in the letter his mother says she is writing the Red Cross and having difficulty in adopting this young boy in her son's memory. She included a photograph with his full name and birth date on the back. Mrs. Russell thanks my grandfather for sending funds to support the boy. I am wondering what became of him and whether he has any children that I can share this story with. In recently found Newsday story in 1943 it says an orphan he was supporting was "brought up in Dr. Barnardo's home". I discovered it was an orphanage that became a children's welfare organization in England.
His younger brother Stanley Bruce Russell was a Commander in the United States Coast Guard. He founded the first USCG Station in Antartica. He married Dorothy Pierson Richardson. He was in the Class of 1941 at Baldwin High School. See his memorial page.
Please message me through this site if you have any additional information, edits or if you're related to any of the crew or civilians who died. I have made a virtual cemetery on my homepage on this site to connect everyone who lost their life in this crash.
If you're not active on this site, I can submit your bio details for any of them and any corrections to the other crew members' memorials. Please provide sources. 17 souls lost now all have known graves with memorials on here. 10 are managed by me and the rest by other volunteers. Some have more info than others and some details regarding crash need a few edits. I continually need to edit this page as more becomes clear with new research.
Also interested in his longtime RAF crew in No. 57 and No. 97 listed above. Making contact with other researchers and their families would be welcomed!
80TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL 10 NOV 2023:
This November 10, 2023, will be the 80th anniversary of this fatal crash in Brome. Plans are in progress to honor and remember the 17 killed. Jack Russell, the entire crew and the local civilians. To tell their stories with continued collaborative research and unraveling the details of this tragic, sad day.
Post note:
Jack's story includes an English orphan boy who Jack and his crew "adopted" and that Jack's mother talks about in a letter in 1944. Born 1939, so he was about four years old in the photo I have. It has his name Ernest A. Walden and birthdate on the back. He may still be living. What a gift to be able to share the letter and the story of his young life and the special bond that Jack, his crew and mother had with this child. Perhaps he has children or grandchildren to learn of this very special story and attend this November 10, 2023 memorial in Brome, England. Needs more research.
SOURCES: 1920 US Federal Census for Brooklyn, Kings, NY; 1930 and 1940 US Federal Censuses for (Baldwin), Hempstead, Nassau, NY; father's passport application, brother Stanley Bruce Russell's obit, personal letters from Jack in England to his younger friend (my father) and his mother Susan M. Russell's 1 Dec 1944 letter to my grandfather and interview with my father who was a childhood friend. Additional invaluable research support by Steve Andrews (Norfolk, England).
Referenced in books:
#1
Bomber Aircrew in World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat - Bruce Barrymore Halpenny - Google Books:
Jack Russell mentioned few times in above book. p. 133 (not shown online. but the book has a photo of Jack in the cockpit a distance with fitter "Wally"), 135-137.
Page 135 has a group photo with the caption.
Crew of the Lancaster ED655 'X' X-Ray of 57 Squadron who took part of the shuttle raids, July 1943. The two Americans, pilot Jack Russell from Long Island, New York and navigator Richard Wright from Chicago, have just been commissioned Second Lieutenants in the US Army Air Corps. (unfortunately it does not say which pilot is Jack).
#2
Air Battle of the Ruhr: RAF Offensive March - July 1943 - Alan W Cooper (first published 1992) - Google Books:
"For Keith Ryrie, the Krefeld Raid was his second trip as a 2nd pilot to 2nd Lt. Jack Russell of US Army Air Corps but who was flying with the RAF in 57 Squadron. The help that Jack Russell gave Keith was of the greatest use when he eventually got his own crew."
#3
The Path Finder Force - Martin W. Bowman
(Add excerpts about Jack and his crew with Squadron 57; photo of Jack & his gunner Wally).
#4
Eighth Air Force: Bomber Stories by Ian MacLachlan & the late photographer Russell J. Zorn. The first chapter is dedicated to the crash in Brome.
Newspaper article:
Three Men Killed, 'Plane Hurls Cart 50 Yards Into Field, Western Morning News, Thursday, November 11, 1943, p. 2. (This is the plane crash that killed 2Lt John Edmund Russell a.k.a. Jack and crew and two radar mechanics and ultimately 4 civilians (not 3).
Crew member H. Jack Lazenby BBC 2005 Interviews mentioning Jack Russell:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a7972770.shtml
***BBC WWII People's War (online memories from public) 22 Dec 2005 with one of Jack's crew H. Jack Lazenby says Jack and Dick Wright were decorated by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding No. 8 Pathfinder Group. This-contradicts the November 3, 1943, The Nassau Daily Review Star, Nassau County, NY newspaper story (see photo section of this memorial) that says Jack was decorated with the DFC medal by King George VI and chatted with HRH and the Queen! Lazenby story is back up by additional sources. The newspaper writer's interview with a Red Cross lady who supposedly spoke to Jack at the Red Cross Eagle Club was a sensational wartime story. That article was written about one and a half months after he was awarded the DFC. Jack Lazenby in the BBC veteran account said that a parade and investiture was in mid September. "Approved" for DFC 1 Sep 1943. A letter from Jack to my grandparents has him awarded the DFC around the third week of September 1943.
Jack did actually meet and have a few words with King George, but earlier than DFC date on May 27, 1943 in Scampton when the King and Queen visited SQ 617 aka the "Dambusters". Source below.
Source: Archive List Royal Air Force
Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story: H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story: Scampton, Background to story: Royal Air Force
Article ID: A7972770, Contributed on:
22 December 2005.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/37/a7983237.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/69/a7798369.shtml
This RAF 57 SQ crew list and narrative is from the BBC interview link above:
Sgt Jack Russell — Pilot —
Long Island, New York
Sgt Richard Wright — Navigator —
Chicago, Illinois
Sgt Nick Golden — Bomb Aimer —
Gloucester
Sgt John Dow — Wireless Operator — Kilmarnock
Sgt Jack Lazenby — Flight Engineer —
Ockley, Surrey
Sgt Ron Marston — Rear Gunner —
Holborn, London
Sgt Wally Bark — Mid Upper Gunner —
Anfield, Liverpool
"Jack Russell and Dick Wright had joined the Canadian Air Force and the teamed up. After training in Canada they had come to Britain to continue their training on Wellington bombers on an Operational Training Unit and had crewed up with Nick Golden, John Dow and Ron Marston, and they had done a fair amount of flying training together."
Excerpt: "Then on the 27th May H.M King George VI and H.M. Queen Elizabeth came to Scampton. Although 617 Squadron was the main attraction, our Squadron 57 were in attendance and our Pilot Sergeant Jack Russell, being American, was introduced to the King. Jack told the King that he was transferring to the United States Air Force and the King smiled and said that we were both on the same side."
Source: Contributed by CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire, People in story:
H. Jack Lazenby DFC, Location of story:
St Athan & Wigsley, Background to story:
Royal Air Force, Article ID: A7798369, Contributed on: 15 December 2005.
Additional helpful info (this website used our family photo of Jack without sourcing its provenance):
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=339040
Inscription
JOHN E. RUSSELL
2 LT 813 BOMB SQ 482 BOMB GP (P)
NEW YORK NOV 10 1943
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
