Samuel Jay Fisher, Jr was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 1921, the son of Samuel J. and Earlyn Stern Fisher. His NARA enlistment record states he enlisted on February 3, 1941, in the Infantry, coming from the National Guard. He had completed 4 years of high school and was single with no dependents.

He later was transferred to the Army Air Corps and entered into the Aviation Cadet Flight Training Program. He successfully completed this course, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Then, he was assigned to an operational training unit for further training in combat crew techniques. He was eventually assigned as crew leader of a replacement combat crew.

This crew deployed to and arrived in England in early 1944. They were assigned to the 562nd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group operating from Knettishall, England. They flew their first combat mission on June 18, 1944, and six more before July 1944. Two of the missions were aborted because of mechanical failure.

On July 8, 1944, the crew flew as part of a raid on German war facilities in the Paris, France area. Specific targets were located at Nantes-Gassicourt. This target was obscured by clouds, so railroad bridges and yards in the vicinity were attacked. Although flak was reported as meager, the B-17 Lt. Fisher was flying was shot down and crashed.

Seven crewmen were killed; two evaded; and one was captured.

Lt. Fisher was originally buried in France, but on June 4, 1949, he was returned to the U.S. for burial in the Cheb Shalom Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland in the family plot. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, airforce.togetherweserved.com