Russell William Meyrick was born on January 24, 1921, in New London County, Connecticut. He was the son of William Henry Meyrick and Kathryn Belle "Kay" Stacy Meyrick. He was married to Eleanor Mary Sheridan Larivee. He served in the 20th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17G #42-97159 nicknamed “Tail End Charlie” during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, the 15th Air Force launched Mission 263, a major raid against the Moravská Ostrava industrial complex in German-occupied Czechoslovakia. Flying from Amendola Air Base in Foggia, Italy, the 2nd Bomb Group took part in what became known as the Air Battle over the White Carpathians. During the attack, the formation was ambushed by nearly 90 German fighters, resulting in one of the group’s worst losses of the war. Within twenty minutes, eight of the nine B-17s from the 20th Bomb Squadron were shot down, crashing across Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. One of these aircraft was B-17G “Tail End Charlie” (42-97159), flying in the rear position of the formation where attacks were heaviest. After sustaining severe damage, the bomber fell from formation and crashed near Bojkovice or in the Přečkovice Woods in the Zlín region of Moravia. Two crewmen were killed, six were captured, and two evaded capture.

2Lt Meyrick was Killed in Action, and his body was found with the wreckage. He is now buried in the Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, b17flyingfortress.de