Elbert Fowler Tucker, of Chatanooga, Tennessee, was born on February 2, 1919. He was the son of Joe Alsup Tucker and Ora Mae Henley Tucker. He was married to Rosa Kate Steele Tucker.

Elbert served in the 565th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-24 #42-100421 'Aphrodite's Disciples' during World War II.

On March 5, 1944, the crew took off from Station 114 airfield in Hethel, England, on a mission to bomb the Bergerac, Cognac, and Mont de Marsan airfields in France. At around 11:30 AM, their plane was shot down by fighters setting the no. 1 engine and a wing on fire. The crew evacuated the airplane at 17,000 feet, and all members survived except for SSgt D'Amore, whose parachute did not open or was killed during an escape attempt. 2Lt Tucker and 2Lt Strahlendorff were captured and taken as prisoners. 2Lt Tucker was taken to Stalag Luft 1 near Barth, Western Pomerania, Germany. Through the help of the French network, the remaining members were able to evade German capture and return to England via Pyrenees/Spain/Gibraltar.

2Lt Tucker also served during the Korean War. He achieved his highest rank in the United States Air Force as a Major. He died on June 5, 1995, at the age of 76, in Anderson County, Texas. Now, he is buried in the Birdston Cemetery, Streetman, Navarro County, Texas.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net