2LT. Jacob Shaffer Hartzell, Jr. was a Pilot with the 12th Air Force; 310th Bombardment Group; 428th Bombardment Squadron; and was stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His Hometown was Nazareth, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, 8 September 1943

428th BS War Diary: Misfortune continued to dog our footsteps as today’s operations claimed Lt. Lawrence L. Purifoy or “Peter Plink” as he was called. Attacking the same target and again unescorted, the planes were jumped by a bunch of enemy fighters that made passes at random. Some claimed 4 parachutes were seen to open, others claim two. Lt. Hartzell flew as co-pilot, Lt. Nessif bombardier, S/Sgt Jack Martin, Radio-gunner, Cpl. Skypeck as gunner. 380th also lost a plane on this mission. The North bridge was hit by a string of bombs. The second bridge was covered again by the bombing pattern. The third was missed. Slight, inaccurate flak was reported. S/Sgts Michalek, Rankin, Storms claimed down enemy fighters. The rumor of September 4th turned out to be a true fact as Italy surrendered. All squadrons were alerted and the camp completely blacked out. The tower was opened all night in anticipation of Italian planes landing here. Major Elmer H. Epperson assumed command of the squadron today, officially. He had been selected to head the squadron previously, in anticipation of Major Walker’s departure, and had been assigned to the squadron for several weeks, getting to know the boys and vice versa. His assumption of command was somewhat previous to what had been intended, because of the unhappy events of Major Walker’s loss.

428th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---) Group Mission # : On the Eight the target was the same, the results similar, only this time it cost two crews out of the group, one of which was 428th. 1st Lt. Lawrence Purifoy, Pilot, 2nd Lt. Jacob Hartzell, copilot, 2nd Lt Joseph Nessif, Navigator, S/Sgt. J.E. Martin, Radio Operator, and Pvt. George Skypeck, Aerial Gunner of the 428th were lost. Lt. LeFevre and his crew of the 380th squadron were also lost.

Lt. Purifoy was leading the last element in the second flight of another unescorted formation. It was attacked by six fighters just after the landfall. S/Sgt. Joseph Michalek destroyed two of these. S/Sgt. Storms, also of our squadron, dispatched another. However, Larry’s plane burst into flames and plummeted to earth in an uncontrolled dive. Two chutes were seen to open.

The North bridge was straddled by strings and other severed the road and railroad again. The second bridge was covered again by the bombing pattern. The third was missed. Slight, inaccurate, heavy flak was reported. As the formation turned homeward, 12 to 14 enemy fighters struck. Lt. LeFevre’s plane was forced to crash land in the water just off the East coast of Italy. Our losses cost the Axis seven ME-109’s and 1 Macchi 202.

428th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 716:

A/C No. 10; B-25C; Serial No. 42-64664; MACR-717;
shot down by enemy a/c
P Purifoy, Lawrence Lloyd "Peter Plink", 1Lt - MIA, POW, RMC
CP Hartzell, Jacob S., 2Lt - KIA
N None
B Nessif, Joseph M., 2Lt - KIA
E None
R Martin, Jack E., S/Sgt - MIA, POW, EUS
G Skypeck, George F., Cpl - KIA
F None

Eyewitness Account: Wink, Jacob A., S/Sgt, gunner, 428th BS

As our flight of 36 planes entered the mainland of Italy on course, several unidentified fighter planes were seen and reported to pilot as directed by briefing instructions. Flying on across Italy on course toward the target two planes were identified as enemy ME-109’s and were fired upon immediately. Tracers were seen coming from these planes into the rear of the formation in which Lt. Purifoy was flying. Lt. Purifoy’s plane was then seen to lose speed, maintaining altitude, and smoke trailing from the right engine. Flames then spread underneath the inboard gas tank on the right side of the plane. At that time one hatch was seen in mid air as four or possibly five bail out with only one chute opening by this observer. Plane seemed to be under control for approximately one minute and then go into a dive into the ground. The plane exploded upon hitting the ground. The bombs were still in the plane and the flight was approximately four or five minutes from the target on the way in.

JACOB A. WINK, S/Sgt., 34088150

Eyewitness Account: Stewart, Hugh W., 2Lt, pilot, 428th BS

I was flying No. 35 in a 36 plane formation. I was flying on Lt. Purifoy’s right wing. We were attacked by about twelve ME-109’s and 1 FW-190, concentrating repeated attacks on our flight. Burst from their cannon fire could be seen close to our flight when Lt. Purifoy was hit on the right side of the plane forward of where the leading edge of the wing meets the fuselage. The plane began to smoke and I saw Lt. Hartzell, the co-pilot, slide back his seat and make for the navigators compartment, with Lt. Purifoy preparing to follow. As I saw the occupants leaving the plane I then joined the lead element for protection because the fighters were still pursuing our planes. I assumed element leader with Lt. Knight on my left wing.

HUGH W. STEWART, 2nd Lt., Air Corps

Eyewitness Account: Whitehurst, Ray E., 2Lt, pilot, 428th BS

Lt. Purifoy was leading the last element of three planes, when we were attacked from the rear by ME-109 fighters. During the attack Lt. Purifoy’s plane was hit and a fire started in the navigator’s compartment. I believe the left engine was knocked out at the same time. The plane started to lose air speed and rapidly filled with smoke. Lt. Purifoy unfastened his safety belt and released the top escape hatch. Then the plane nosed up and disappeared behind us. I did not see any one get out or the plane hit the ground. This happened to the best of my knowledge about two minutes before the bomb run and south of the target and west in the vicinity of Cassano All Ionia and Doria. I was flying number 36 position on Lt. Purifoy’s left wing.

RAY E. WHITEHURST, 2nd Lt., Air Corps

Jacob S Hartzell