Sergeant Bennie Levi Ballard, Army serial number 38470348, was born at Braggs, Muskogee County, Oklahoma on July 17, 1923. He was the oldest of nine children of Jack Ballard (28 Nov 1900 – 25 Sep 1978), who was born in Indian Territory and grew up near Cookson, in what is now Cherokee County, Oklahoma; and Delva May (McMains) Ballard (11 Apr 1903 – 11 Sep 1992), who was born in Indian Territory in what is now Nowata County, Oklahoma. His parents were members of the Cherokee Tribe; both were of Cherokee and Caucasian ancestry. His parents married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on March 4, 1922. His father was a farmer and a laborer in a laundry. In 1940 the family lived at 442 North Willow in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He completed at least one year of high school, and registered for the draft at Nowata on June 30, 1942. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 175 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he was employed by City Drug in Nowata. He enlisted in the U.S. Army by 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as waist gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson. The Jackson crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Jackson's crew roster on September 30, 1944:
B-17G 43-38037 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
Sgt Ballard and six of his crewmates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.
Sgt Ballard’s remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at McMains Cemetery, Nowata County, Oklahoma in 1949. The cemetery is about ten miles east of Nowata, Oklahoma at 36.728°N, 95.450°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1900 US Census; Oklahoma; Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Twp 14 North, Range 21 East, East of Arkansas River. Ballard, Alex. 23 Jun 1900 (Alexander 'Tuxie' or 'Tuxy' Ballard, his father's father)
3. 1906 Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes; Oklahoma and Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Cherokee Roll. McMains, Delva May. 18 Jun 1906 (1906 census card for his mother)
4. 1910 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Tuxy. 19 Apr 1910 (his father's father)
5. 1920 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Elias. 7 Jan 1920 (his father's brother)
6. 1930 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Armstrong Township. Ballard, Jack. 4 Apr 1930 (his father)
7. 1940 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Nowata. Ballard, Jack. 12 Apr 1940 (his father)
8. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890–1995. Jack Ballard and Delva McMains married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on 4 Mar 1922. (his parents)
10. Oklahoma, School Enrollment Records, 1895–1936 (ancestry.com). Parent: Tuxy Ballard; Post Office: Greenleaf, Oklahoma; Tribe: Cherokee. 11 Feb 1921
11. Oklahoma State University Library. Oklahoma Digital Maps Collection
• Indian Territory, 1898
• Nowata County (map of Nowata County after statehood in 1907, by Oklahoma Department of Highways; shows townships and ranges and the numbered sections within each township)
12. Social Security Death Index
13. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)
14. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9423 (Harold E. Oesch crew, B-17G 43-38154)
15. U.S. Headstone Applications for US Military Veterans, 1925–1949
16. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
17. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
18. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
-------------- End Bio ---------------------
Contributor: Paul Webber (47577572)
He completed at least one year of high school, and registered for the draft at Nowata on June 30, 1942. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 175 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he was employed by City Drug in Nowata. He enlisted in the U.S. Army by 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as waist gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson. The Jackson crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Jackson's crew roster on September 30, 1944:
B-17G 43-38037 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
Sgt Ballard and six of his crewmates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.
Sgt Ballard’s remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at McMains Cemetery, Nowata County, Oklahoma in 1949. The cemetery is about ten miles east of Nowata, Oklahoma at 36.728°N, 95.450°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1900 US Census; Oklahoma; Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Twp 14 North, Range 21 East, East of Arkansas River. Ballard, Alex. 23 Jun 1900 (Alexander 'Tuxie' or 'Tuxy' Ballard, his father's father)
3. 1906 Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes; Oklahoma and Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Cherokee Roll. McMains, Delva May. 18 Jun 1906 (1906 census card for his mother)
4. 1910 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Tuxy. 19 Apr 1910 (his father's father)
5. 1920 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Elias. 7 Jan 1920 (his father's brother)
6. 1930 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Armstrong Township. Ballard, Jack. 4 Apr 1930 (his father)
7. 1940 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Nowata. Ballard, Jack. 12 Apr 1940 (his father)
8. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890–1995. Jack Ballard and Delva McMains married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on 4 Mar 1922. (his parents)
10. Oklahoma, School Enrollment Records, 1895–1936 (ancestry.com). Parent: Tuxy Ballard; Post Office: Greenleaf, Oklahoma; Tribe: Cherokee. 11 Feb 1921
11. Oklahoma State University Library. Oklahoma Digital Maps Collection
• Indian Territory, 1898
• Nowata County (map of Nowata County after statehood in 1907, by Oklahoma Department of Highways; shows townships and ranges and the numbered sections within each township)
12. Social Security Death Index
13. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)
14. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9423 (Harold E. Oesch crew, B-17G 43-38154)
15. U.S. Headstone Applications for US Military Veterans, 1925–1949
16. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
17. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
18. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
-------------- End Bio ---------------------
Contributor: Paul Webber (47577572)
Sergeant Bennie Levi Ballard, Army serial number 38470348, was born at Braggs, Muskogee County, Oklahoma on July 17, 1923. He was the oldest of nine children of Jack Ballard (28 Nov 1900 – 25 Sep 1978), who was born in Indian Territory and grew up near Cookson, in what is now Cherokee County, Oklahoma; and Delva May (McMains) Ballard (11 Apr 1903 – 11 Sep 1992), who was born in Indian Territory in what is now Nowata County, Oklahoma. His parents were members of the Cherokee Tribe; both were of Cherokee and Caucasian ancestry. His parents married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on March 4, 1922. His father was a farmer and a laborer in a laundry. In 1940 the family lived at 442 North Willow in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He completed at least one year of high school, and registered for the draft at Nowata on June 30, 1942. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 175 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he was employed by City Drug in Nowata. He enlisted in the U.S. Army by 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as waist gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson. The Jackson crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Jackson's crew roster on September 30, 1944:
B-17G 43-38037 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
Sgt Ballard and six of his crewmates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.
Sgt Ballard’s remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at McMains Cemetery, Nowata County, Oklahoma in 1949. The cemetery is about ten miles east of Nowata, Oklahoma at 36.728°N, 95.450°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1900 US Census; Oklahoma; Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Twp 14 North, Range 21 East, East of Arkansas River. Ballard, Alex. 23 Jun 1900 (Alexander 'Tuxie' or 'Tuxy' Ballard, his father's father)
3. 1906 Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes; Oklahoma and Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Cherokee Roll. McMains, Delva May. 18 Jun 1906 (1906 census card for his mother)
4. 1910 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Tuxy. 19 Apr 1910 (his father's father)
5. 1920 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Elias. 7 Jan 1920 (his father's brother)
6. 1930 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Armstrong Township. Ballard, Jack. 4 Apr 1930 (his father)
7. 1940 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Nowata. Ballard, Jack. 12 Apr 1940 (his father)
8. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890–1995. Jack Ballard and Delva McMains married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on 4 Mar 1922. (his parents)
10. Oklahoma, School Enrollment Records, 1895–1936 (ancestry.com). Parent: Tuxy Ballard; Post Office: Greenleaf, Oklahoma; Tribe: Cherokee. 11 Feb 1921
11. Oklahoma State University Library. Oklahoma Digital Maps Collection
• Indian Territory, 1898
• Nowata County (map of Nowata County after statehood in 1907, by Oklahoma Department of Highways; shows townships and ranges and the numbered sections within each township)
12. Social Security Death Index
13. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)
14. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9423 (Harold E. Oesch crew, B-17G 43-38154)
15. U.S. Headstone Applications for US Military Veterans, 1925–1949
16. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
17. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
18. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
-------------- End Bio ---------------------
Contributor: Paul Webber (47577572)
He completed at least one year of high school, and registered for the draft at Nowata on June 30, 1942. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 175 pounds, and had brown eyes and black hair. At that time he was employed by City Drug in Nowata. He enlisted in the U.S. Army by 1943.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as waist gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson. The Jackson crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Jackson's crew roster on September 30, 1944:
B-17G 43-38037 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
Sgt Ballard and six of his crewmates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.
Sgt Ballard’s remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at McMains Cemetery, Nowata County, Oklahoma in 1949. The cemetery is about ten miles east of Nowata, Oklahoma at 36.728°N, 95.450°W.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1900 US Census; Oklahoma; Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Twp 14 North, Range 21 East, East of Arkansas River. Ballard, Alex. 23 Jun 1900 (Alexander 'Tuxie' or 'Tuxy' Ballard, his father's father)
3. 1906 Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes; Oklahoma and Indian Territory; Cherokee Nation; Cherokee Roll. McMains, Delva May. 18 Jun 1906 (1906 census card for his mother)
4. 1910 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Tuxy. 19 Apr 1910 (his father's father)
5. 1920 US Census; Oklahoma; Cherokee County; Cookson Township 4. Ballard, Elias. 7 Jan 1920 (his father's brother)
6. 1930 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Armstrong Township. Ballard, Jack. 4 Apr 1930 (his father)
7. 1940 US Census; Oklahoma; Nowata County; Nowata. Ballard, Jack. 12 Apr 1940 (his father)
8. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890–1995. Jack Ballard and Delva McMains married at Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma on 4 Mar 1922. (his parents)
10. Oklahoma, School Enrollment Records, 1895–1936 (ancestry.com). Parent: Tuxy Ballard; Post Office: Greenleaf, Oklahoma; Tribe: Cherokee. 11 Feb 1921
11. Oklahoma State University Library. Oklahoma Digital Maps Collection
• Indian Territory, 1898
• Nowata County (map of Nowata County after statehood in 1907, by Oklahoma Department of Highways; shows townships and ranges and the numbered sections within each township)
12. Social Security Death Index
13. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)
14. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9423 (Harold E. Oesch crew, B-17G 43-38154)
15. U.S. Headstone Applications for US Military Veterans, 1925–1949
16. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
17. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946
18. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947
Research by:
Paul Webber
Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association
-------------- End Bio ---------------------
Contributor: Paul Webber (47577572)
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