Freeman Bernard C.

Monuments

B-24J 42-50953 ''Flying Finger'' Monument

B-24J 42-50953 ''Flying Finger'' Plaque

Name:

Bernard C. Freeman

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

18020202

Unit:

765th Bomber Squadron, 461st Bomber Group (Heavy)

Date of Death:

1944-12-17

State:

Oklahoma

Cemetery:

Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Bernard C. Freeman was born on February 23, 1922, in Craig County, Oklahoma. He was the son of George Henry Freeman and Emma Lee Hawkins Freeman. He enlisted in the service on August 20, 1940. He served in the 765th Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Turret Gunner of B-24J #42-50953, nicknamed "Flying Finger," during World War II.

On December 17, 1944, the �Flying Finger� took off from Torretta, Italy, as part of Mission No. 151 to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Odertal, Germany. The �Flying Finger,� piloted by 2Lt Phillip Crossman, was last seen around 11:45 a.m. near Muglitz, Moravia. It never returned. The aircraft went down south of Neutitschein (now Nov� Jič�n, Czech Republic) after encountering heavy flak and German fighters, with four crewmen killed and the rest wounded or taken prisoner.

Sgt Freeman was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma, USA.

Source of information: 461st.org, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com