O. Jack Schooley was born on October 2, 1921 in Ohio. He served in the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Tech Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-24 #42-51355 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J Liberator serial number 42-51355 was shot down during a bombing mission over Germany and crashed near Krauthausen in the Eisenach area. The aircraft was participating in the American strategic air offensive against German industrial targets and encountered heavy enemy defenses while over hostile territory. The loss was officially recorded in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 09393, which documented the aircraft’s destruction at approximately 10:01 a.m. local time; several members of the crew were killed in the crash. The incident occurred during one of the most hazardous phases of the air war over Germany, when bomber formations frequently sustained heavy losses from anti-aircraft fire and German fighter interception.

T/Sgt Schooley survived the crash of the plane and became a POW. He died on December 7, 2010 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org