Amos Worthen Shepard was born on April 1, 1916, in Winchester, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He served in the 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17 (42-97537) known as "Chicken Ship" during World War II.

On April 9, 1944, during a mission targeting Marienburg (now Malbork, Poland), the plane encountered heavy enemy resistance. After taking flak damage over the target area, "Chicken Ship" lost engine power and fell behind its formation. Three German Focke-Wulf FW 190 fighters attacked, striking the aircraft and forcing the crew to abandon it. All of the crew parachuted safely and became POWs except Flight Engineer Fasone who was instantly killed. Amos was captured by German forces and imprisoned at Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia.

After the war, he moved to New York City, studied at Pratt Institute, and in the 1950s and 60s ran an antique shop on Madison Avenue, serving prominent clients like the Winterthur Museum, the White House, and the State Department. Later, he co-operated with the Parsnip Hollow Gift Shop, known for unique items from Asia. He also contributed to his community through various local organizations, including the East Haddam Land Trust and Rathbun Library and Historical Society. 2Lt Shepard died on August 31, 2009, and is now buried in the First Church Cemetery, East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, obituaries.bowdoin.edu