Us Official Photographs

S/Sgt French with TOUCH-THE-BUTTON-NELL

FIGHTERS -- Standing beside the bed of S/Sgt. Herbert J. Burgasser, of Buffalo, N.Y. is S/Sgt. Lifford E. French, of Athens, Ala., who put out the fire caused by an explosion between the top turret and the bomb bay of "TOUCH-THE-BUTTON-NELL" on the way to bomb targets in Germany on what started out to be a mild run and ended up an ill fated trip for "NELL". Burgasser fought from his ball turret in spite of wounds caused by a 20mm shell bursting right in his face and didn't leave his turret until three more shells forced him to stagger forth. French put out the fire and then took over as co-pilot and aided the pilot in bringing "NELL" home safely.