John (Jack) Joseph Campbell of California was born on February 11, 1920. He served in the 407th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17 Fortress #42-29967 "Battling Bastards" during World War II.

On July 4, 1943, his crew took off from Station 109 in Podington, England, to bomb the Château-Bougon airfield and SNCASO factories. Hit by flak and shot down by fighters at around 12:30 PM, their airplane crashed 1 km from La Guérinière beach. All members survived the crash, but all of them were captured. 1Lt Campbell was taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net