Harold was the tail gunner in a B-17 called “Lady Jane II”. He was stationed as part of the 613th Bombardment Squadron of the 401st Bombardment Group with the 8th Air Force flying out of Deenethorpe, England. On the 18th of March, 1945 Lady Jane II and her crew were flying a mission over Germany with orders to bomb Railroad marshalling yards in Berlin, Germany. During this mission they were shot down by ME-262 jet aircraft and Flak.

Crew:

Pilot 2nd Lt D.E. Vermeer KIA

Copilot 2nd Lt J.J. Thompson POW

Navigator 2nd Lt E.E. Holley POW

Togglier Sgt E.J. Butlin KIA

Radio Operator Sgt M. BasaraKIA

Top Turret Sgt H.E. ChurchillKIA

Ball Turret Sgt F.A. Gerhardt POW

Tail Gunner Sgt H.L. Babcock POW

Waist Gunner Sgt R.A. Williams POW

Harold Loren Babcock Sr