259010 Cpl. Francisco Xavier Jacques United States Army Air Forces 338th Squadron 96th Bomb Group from:Sweetwater, Texas Francisco Jacques, my father, entered the military in Abilene, Texas on 18 August 18 1942. He was first trained for B-17 squadron service in Pyote, Texas at the Rattlesnake Base. He was then transferred for further training in Pocatello, Idaho before being transferred by train to New Jersey and then shipped on the Queen Elizabeth to England. He was stationed at Snetterton Heath base for the 8th Army Air Force, 96th Bomb Group, 338th Squadron. His discharge papers incorrectly state that he was in the 805th squadron. Francisco was a waist-gunner and was injured on his sixth mission over Germany. Anti-aircraft damaged the oxygen hoses, and his lungs were traumatized while waiting for the damaged B-17 to return to home base in England. He was hospitalized for a few weeks and then returned to duty on the ground crew. After 6th of June 1944, he served in Europe (France, Belgium, and Germany). He was at one time ranked as a sergeant, but he was reduced to corporal for some minor violation. In 1945 after the war, Francisco was shipped to New York on the Queen Mary, and he then made his way to Camp Fannin in Tyler, Texas where he was discharged on 5th of October 1945.
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