Francis Thomas Pepin was born on August 16, 1921, in Escanaba, Michigan. He was the son of John Baptiste Pepin and Edwardina Ann Dubord Pepin.

Francis served in the 409th Bomber Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Right Waist Gunner on the B-24 #41-28626 'Thunderbird' during World War II.

On February 5, 1944, the crew took off from Station 104 in Hardwick, England, for a mission to Chateaudun, France. At around 11:45 am, their plane suffered mechanical problems causing it to be uncontrollable, and crashed at a place called Petit Neuf Manor, 2 km northeast of Danzé. The airplane was completely evacuated by the crew members before it crashed into the ground and exploded. Fortunately, all members survived, but all were captured by the Germans. SSgt Pepin was taken to Stalag Luft IV in Gross Tychow, Poland.

Francis died on February 7, 2010, at the age of 88, in Lombard, Illinois. His current burial place is unknown.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net