Sampson Sharff, born on July 12, 1916, served with distinction during World War II, notably as a B-17 pilot/co-pilot in the 384th Bombardment Group, 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), based out of Grafton Underwood, England. Over a six-month tour of duty, he successfully completed 30 combat bombing missions over Germany and France. On December 21, 1943, he was ordered to Coombe House Hotel ('flak house') in Semley, Dorset, for a seven-day rest, according to AAF Station 106 Special Orders #171 dated December 20, 1943.

After completing his combat tour, he was transferred to the 312th Ferrying Squadron of the 27th Air Transport Group on May 9, 1944, where he was promoted to First Lieutenant. There, he served as co-pilot of a B-24H Liberator (#42-51202). Tragically, on June 8, 1944, while ferrying the aircraft from BAD 2 at Warton in Lancashire to Langford Lodge in Northern Ireland, the plane crashed into Snaefell on the Isle of Man due to low cloud conditions, killing all four crew members. The crash site was discovered the next day by a police officer leading a group of internees on a hike from Peel.

Initially buried in the Lisnabreeny Former American Military Cemetery in Belfast, his remains were later transferred to Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, USA, after the Lisnabreeny cemetery closed in 1948. 1LT Sharff's final resting place stands as a testament to his bravery and sacrifice, marking his service and the journey he never completed back to the USA.

B-24H 42-51202 crew:
Walter Leon Lenox- Pilot
Sampson Sharff - Co-Pilot
Anthony Francis Bellini - Flight Engineer
Samuel Francis Joseph - Radio Operator

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk, 384thbombgroup.com