Raymond Francis Jackson was born at Woodbury, Gloucester County, New Jersey on December 13, 1922. He was probably an only child. His mother was Hazel S. (Craig) Jackson Suback (Jan 1894 – Sep 1983), who was born in New Jersey. His stepfather was John Alfred Suback (16 Sep 1903 – 20 Apr 1977), who was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother and stepfather married by 1935 and lived at 14 West Street, Woodbury, New Jersey, his home of record. His stepfather was an electrician.

He completed four years of high school and registered for the draft at Woodbury, New Jersey on February 15, 1942. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 143 pounds, and had brown eyes and brown hair. At that time he lived with his parents and worked as a shoe salesman at Wanamaker Department Store on Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Camden, New Jersey, on September 9, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as a heavy bomber pilot in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The Jackson crew arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

Lt Jackson and six of his crew mates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' just after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.

Lt Jackson's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro, New Jersey, on January 14, 1950. He is also honored on the Gloucester County Wall of Heroes at Gloucester County Courthouse in Woodbury, New Jersey.

B-17G 43-38037 crew:
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com