Elbert Forest Giddens served in the 534th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Mechanic/Gunner on the B-17 #42-102585 'The Betty L' during World War II.

On June 24, 1944, his crew took off from Station 167 airfield in Ridgewell, England, for a bombing mission to La Riche - Tours, France. Around 08:30H, their plane was shot down by flak, taking a direct hit to the radio room and setting the engine no. 3 on fire. The plane crashed in the town of Valléres. This incident resulted in the deaths of four crew members, four were taken as prisoners, and one member evaded the German capture. Sgt Giddens was one of those who were captured. He was taken to Stalag Luft IV in Gross Tychow, Poland.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net