Theodore Ira Sherrill was born at Alta, Ravalli County, Montana on March 20, 1921. His family called him Teddy. His parents were Theodore Ernest Sherrill (1 Apr 1895 – 17 May 1974), who was born at Sula, Ravalli County, Montana; and Lena M. (Rickard) Sherrill (20 Aug 1886 – Jul 1979), who was born in New York. They married at Charlos Heights, Ravalli County, Montana, on April 3, 1920. He had a younger sister, Jessie D. Sherrill (1924 – 1 Mar 1942). In 1930 the family lived in Darby, Ravalli County, Montana, and his father was employed as a farm laborer. By 1940 his father owned and operated a sawmill in Ravalli County.
He completed four years of high school and moved to Washtenaw County, Michigan, where he worked as a semiskilled mechanic and repairman. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Detroit, Michigan on September 2, 1942. He married after enlisting. His wife was Mrs. Genema D. (Strickland) Sherrill (15 Dec 1923 – 14 Jan 2017); in 1944 she lived at 910 West Kirby, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, his home of record.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson 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 Sherrill 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 Sherrill's remains were returned from the American Military Cemetery at Margraten, The Netherlands to the United States, and reinterred at Custer National Cemetery near Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana on June 6, 1950.
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