POTTER Eugene M - 397 FS 368 FG

 

Eugene M. POTTER

 

ip
NUMBER OF SERVICEO-885463
AGE24 yo
DATE OF BIRTH13 October 1920 Cook County, ILLINOIS
ETATILLINOIS
FAMILY 
RANKCaptain
FONCTIONPilot
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT NE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT1940-41  Canadian Air Force   Royal Canadian Air Force Badge
 SQUADRON397th Fighter Squadron
 GROUP 368th Fighter Group
ARMY9th US Air Force
DATE OF DEATH7 July 1944ip
STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHTo La Bénardière - 25 km from Vire
DATA PLAN 

P-47 Thunderbolt - type D-22-RE - s/n 42-25881

P 47N Thunderbolt

Macr : 6645

Mission : Armed recognition

Takeoff terrain A-3 Cardonville (14)

Crash observed by 2Lt Henry L Olsen

Collision in aerial combat with a hunter Focke Wulf 190
piloted by Theo NAU
CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  -- N°--

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

PlotRowGrave
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CEMETERYBRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY of St James (Montjoie St Martin)

Map of St James American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
F43
DECORATION

Air Medal & 11 Gold Stars

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Brevet Pilote

 

am

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

 
usaf 9af 368fg 397fs
STORY
ip PALATINE ENTERPRISE, PALATINE, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, August 4, 1944, FRONT PAGE

GENE POTTER, FIGHTER ACE, IS MISSING
Capt. Eugene Potter, fighter pilot, formerly of Arlington Heights, has been reported missing over Europe. Returned letters to his brother, Edward, of Arlington, prompted an inquiry as to Gene's whereabouts and brought notification from the war department of his "missing in action since July 7".

Arriving simultaneously with the missing message was word that Capt. Potter had been decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with a silver Oak Leaf and six bronze clusters.

Brig. Gen. Quesada, Hq. commander of the 9th air force, wrote a personal letter to Edward telling of Gene's feats:

"In all those missions Eugene displayed courage and skill which reflected high credit upon himself and the armed forces of this country.

"I take a great deal of pleasure in notifying you personally of his success and to congratulate you upon having such a fine brother, who is doing so much for his country.

"I know you are proud of your brother. We are."

The war department wire had been sent earlier but through a mistake in transmission part of the address was dropped, and it went undelivered.		ip
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VISITS CHERBOURG
Gene's last letter to his brother revealed that he had visited Cherbourg just two hours after the fall of the city.

"The colonel got permission for six pilots to visit the front lines. I was one of the first to ask, so I got to go.

"When we were in Cherbourg the fighting was still on. So, we pulled off to one side of the street--and I about jumped out of my skin. There sat a Jerry, looking straight at me. He even had a gun in his hand.

"I almost died until I saw he was dead.

"Except for that day off, I have been busy flying every day, dive-bombing and strafing the Hun. Blew up a staff car that was belting down the road.

GETS IN EARLY
Capt. Potter began training in the Canadian air force in the winter of 1940-41. He was a member of the first American squadron to fight on foreign soil, the Eagle squadron. Those were the men that didn't wait for this country to get into the war before getting at the Nazis.

Never one to boast, Capt. Potter failed, in his many letters home, to mention the number of Nazi planes he shot down, although dispatches from England long ago termed him an ace and frequently mentioned his victories.

In a letter received from the air force group chaplain, Capt. Donald Cleary, he states, in part:

"In some cases I have been able to hold out some hope that the boys listed as missing in action would return, but in the case of your brother the circumstances do not seem to permit even this hope. He was very popular with the boys and we miss him very much."

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS HERALD, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1944, FRONT PAGE

Eugene KILLED IN ACTION
Capt. Eugene Potter, fighter pilot, has been officially declared killed in action according to word received by his brother, Edward, of Arlington Heights. Gene was reported missing in action July 7. At that time an air force chaplain wrote that there was little hope for his safety. The German government through the International Red Cross, has reported that Capt. Potter was killed in action.

Gene entered the Canadian air force in the winter of '40-'41. He went to England as a member of the first American squadron to fight on English soil. His group was dubbed the "Eagle Squadron."

Capt. Potter was later transferred to the American air force. It was announced a month ago that he had been awarded the distinguished flying cross and the air medal with a silver oak leaf and six bronze clusters.

Gene attended Arlington Heights schools, and later held a job with a metropolitan daily, before entering the air force.

Submitted by Eric Ackerman

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOFrancecrashes39-45.net - Abmc.gov - Findagrave.com -       
PROGRAMMERHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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