Jack Douglas Agee was born on February 4, 1922 in Diboll, Texas to William Henry & Johnnie Woods Agee. Jack had three brothers, William, Maurice, and Robert, as well as, three sisters, Cleo, Mary and Julia. The family lived in Diboll, Texas where Jack’s father was a licensed druggist.

On August 15, 1941, Jack Douglas married Marie Pfeffer in Big Springs, Texas. The couple welcomed two daughters, Deleese who was 2 years old at the time of her father’s death and Carolyn who was born in August of 1944.

T/Sgt Jack Douglas Agee flew a B-17 Flying Fortress on 23 missions, from January 5, 1944, mission #12, to May 28, 1944, mission #77. He served as an Engineer / Top Turret and Pilot. He was killed in action on May 28, 1944. He was Flying with Lt. V. J. Kaminski, Lt. Ferdyn's crew (42-97073) - 401st Bombing Group - 615th Squadron.

Details of the B-17 (42-97073): Delivered Cheyenne January 44; Alexandra 12/2/44; Presque Is 4/3/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-N] Deenethorpe March 23,44; Missing in Action Dessau May 28, 1944 with Vince Kaminski, Bombardier: Dee Black, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jack Agee, Radio Operator: Larry Cooper, Ball turret gunner: Joe Johnson, Waist gunner: Bill May, Waist gunner: Everett Bushendorf,Tail gunner: Harry Hertzan (8 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Bob Enstad, Navigator: Chas Manning (2 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft set #1 on fire, then the ship exploded, crashing into woods near Steinburg, 12 miles N of Dessau, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5311.

T/Sgt Agee served with the following crewman: Sgt Reuben Acosta, 2nd Lt J. Dee D. Black, 1st Lt Fred D. Brown, S/Sgt Everett M. Bushendorf, S/Sgt Larry R. Cooper, S/Sgt William T. Cummings, 2nd Lt Robert J. Enstad, 1st Lt Joseph E. Ferdyn, S/Sgt Harold Hertzan, S/Sgt Joe R. Johnson, 1st Lt Vincent J. Kaminski, 2nd Lt Charles H. Manning Jr. and S/Sgt William M. May.

Details of Mission: Dessau #77

Date: 5/28/1944 12:00:00 AM

Commander: Capt. F.D. Grinham

Crews Briefed: 21

Details: Oil Refinery

Notes: The Group was briefed at 0645. All 21 aircraft were airborne by 1106. By 1811 the Group had returned but was missing seven aircraft, and returning planes included a fatality and wounded airmen. One ship landed at Woodbridge with the two port engines out.

Summary: This was the toughest mission of the 401st Bombardment Group's tour in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). The Group furnished the Low Box of the 94th Combat Wing and was chosen as the focus of attack by approximately 200 enemy fighters. The attacks lasted for 40 minutes, from the I.P. through two runs at the target. As many as 60 enemy aircraft attacked in formation, using saturation tactics. As a result, all of the High Squadron but the Lead Aircraft were shot down. A total of six Group aircraft were lost in the target area while another was forced to ditch in the English Channel. The crews and aircraft lost included Lt. V. J. Kaminski, flying with Lt. Ferdyn's crew (42-97073), Lt. George E. West (42-31034 "Bonnie Donnie"), Lt. Walter B. Keith, Jr. (42-31557), Lt. William R. Protz (42-102580), Lt. Paul F. Scharff (42-102581 "Lonesome Polecat"), and Lt. Frederick H. Windham (42-102647 "BTO in the ETO"). Capt. G. F. Carter and his crew ditched in the Channel (42-39837 "Red's Rogues"). Notwithstanding the ferocious enemy attacks, the Group's bombs fell in an excellent pattern on the MPI, and dense smoke was observed over the target.

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Source:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/52277208/person/27114253454/facts

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=42-97073

Jack D Agee