1st Lieutenant Winfred Leeper Rucker (#O-729995) was born 27 May 1920 to Winfred and Elsie (nee Day) Rucker in Trenton, Missouri. He is one of 3 children. His father predeceased him. He enlisted 6 January 1942 in Los Angeles, California.

He eventually ended up as part of the 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy whose base was Thorpe Abbotts Field, England. On 16 July 1943, B 17 # 42-30305 “Flak Shack”, took off on a local formation practice mission. Weather was clear and visibility unlimited. After takeoff, the aircraft entered a right bank almost immediately. The bank continued, and the aircraft lost altitude until it crashed. The duration of the flight did not exceed 30 seconds. Three crew members in the rear of the aircraft survived with injuries. The other seven crew members received fatal injuries.

Those lost that day are buried at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

The crew:

Barnhill, Woodrow Blaine, 1st Lt, Pilot, Tx

Hudson, Carl F, 2nd Lieutenant, Copilot, Ga

Carr, William H, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, In

Rucker, Winfred L, 1st Lieutenant, Bombardier, Ca

Contos, Peter, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner/Eng, Il

Johnson, Edward D, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, PA

Opala, Frank M, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, NY – survived with injuries

Harris Jr, Newton E, Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner, Co

Noel, Vincent S, Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner, Pa – survived with injuries

Russell Jr, Peter S, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Ma – survived with injuries

Winfred L Rucker