Oakley, Neill Ellsworth

Name and Rank, First Lieutenant Neill Ellsworth Oakley.

Unit/Placed, 323rd Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group (Heavy).

Neill was born on 19 November 1916 in Otero County, Colorado.

Father, Estie Oneal Oakley.

Mother, Pearl (Wendell) Oakley.

Brother, Ronald Oakley.

Wife, Bonnie (Leigh) Oakley

Neill entered the Service from California with service number # O-561781.

Neill E. Oakley was a 1st Lieutenant/Passenger (Observer) in the 91st Bomber Group.

Neil’s crewmembers onboard the B-17 were,

1st Lt. Lawrence J. Stark Pilot

1st Lt. John T. Evins Co Pilot

2nd Lt. Walter H. Sepherd Navigator

2nd Lt. Arthur H. Nicholls Bombardier

T/Sgt. Tom W. Bagwell Top Turret Gunner

Sgt. Robert H. Reynolds Right Waist Gunner

T/Sgt. Wallace L. Mooney Radio Operator/Gunner

S/Sgt. John J. Arihood Ball Turret Gunner

Sgt. Edward M. Brumal Tail Gunner

Sgt. Richard K. Wirt Left Waist Gunner

1st Lt. Neil E. Oakley Observer/Passenger

Neill was KIA When they after the Target Area were attacked by an Enemy Plane which shot the cockpit and an engine in fire, that made the plane exploded midair, on May 13, 1943, and he is honored with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Neill is buried at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

Thanks to 91stbombgroup.com http://www.91stbombgroup.com/

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GSJZ-PMS

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com