Harold Adrian Brassfield   Staff Sergeant
Born: 1 June 1923 - Gatliff, Whitley Co., Kentucky
Years of Service: 7 December 1942 - 6 March 1944
Branch of Service: USAAF
Unit:  388th Bomb Group (Heavy) - 562nd Bomb Squadron - 8th Air Force
Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal w/3 OLC, Purple Heart
S/Sgt. Harold A. Brassfield, "Ad" to his friends, was a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress named "Blitzing Betsy."  At the time he served with the 8th AF, it was required that a crew member fly 25 missions to complete his tour.  S/Sgt. Brassfield flew his 25th mission on 6 March 1944, which fate had was the first full scale U.S. raid on the German capital of Berlin.  S/Sgt. Brassfield and his crew made it to Berlin and dropped their bombs suffering some minor anti aircraft damage.  On the return trip to England, "Blitzing Betsy" was attacked by German fighters, set afire which led to a collision with another B-17, and then exploded.  During this time S/Sgt. Brassfield reported shooting down a German fighter and immediately being seriously wounded.  He was unable to bail out of the spinning, burning B-17 and perished with 3 of his fellow crewmates, one of which probably sacrificed his chance to escape to instead go tend to S/Sgt. Brassfield's wounds.  Harold Brassfield was 20 years old.
S/Sgt. Brassfield was buried wth great reverence by Dutch citizens who risked the wrath of their Nazi occupiers to see that S/Sgt. Brassfield and his three crewmates got a proper Christian burial.  The original burial location was at Nieuw Dordrecht, Holland.   After the war S/Sgt. Brassfield was brought back to Whitley Co. and buried in Williamsburg at Highland Park.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone at all who knew Harold Brassfield during his youth in Whitley and Harlan Counties.  I know he had a girlfriend named Betty or Betsy (hence the name "Blitzing Betsy on his plane.. several of the crew had Betty or Betsy's for girlfriends/wives), who I believe attended Cumberland College.  I'd love to know what happened to her.

Chris Brassfield

Steve ( Joe ) Bryant born: June 18, 1926 Whitley County, Kentucky Parents: Joseph Bryant and Lina ( Jelina ) Morgan WWII - US Army At Normandy and the invasion of Italy      Injurred Served 1941-1945     Sue Bryant  bryant@tcnet.net

Lloyd Campbell, born to William Campbell and Melinda (Floyd) Campbell in Corbin, Kentucky.  he was in the Army, Air Force during WWII and served at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed.  He was also involved in
pacific operations.
fredcamp@email.msn.com

Ernest "Pete" COLLINGSWORTH, 84, of the Apple Grove Community, Barbourville, passed away Tuesday, July 14, 1998 in the Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin. He was the son of the late George Collinsworth and Thurza Pugh
Collinsworth born to them on September 13, 1913 in Knox County. He  was a United States Navy veteran of World War II. On May 21, 1938, he united in marriage to Roxie Warfield. Funeral services  were conducted in the Hopper Funeral Home Chapel, Friday, July 17 at 2 p.m.  Burial followed in the Barbourville Cemetery. Hopper Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.

George Calvin Criscillis, Jr. b. Sept 1927 in Wmsburg & died Sept 1991
in Louisville, KY. He was son of George and Margaret Franklin
Criscillis. G. C. served in US Air Force stateside for 2 years.
He is survived by 3 chldren and his wife, Virginia Human Criscillis all
of whom live in Louisville, KY.  thowell@hiwaay.net

Milton Milford "Buddy" Criscillis, Jr.s/o M.M. and Nell Oakley
Criscillis was born Aprl 7, 1921 in Whitley Co. KY,and d. 26 April,
1972 in Frankfort, KY. Buddy served in the US Army abt 1942-1946,
spending considerable time in Australia. I do not know the name of his
unit etc. He is survived by Virginia Butcher Criscillis and 2 children.
Paul Adrian Criscillis Sr. s/o George Calvin & Margaret Franklin
Criscillis was born Sept 16, 1922 & d. June, 1997. He was a lifelong
resident of Williamsburg and served in the US Air Force as a
meteorologist 1943-1946. Paul was Postmaster in Williamsburg 1954-1981
He is survived by two sons and his wife, Anne Bohannon Criscillis who
resides in Wmsburg.thowell@hiwaay.net

Arlis Terrell Hart served in the U.S.Navy from 1941 to 1945. He was on the carrier
U.S.S. Enterprise when the Japanesse bombed Pearl Harbor. He was in the battle
of the Coral Sea. He was transfered to the U.S.S. Plymouth which was the converted
Vanderbilt Yacht. Arlis was on the Plymouth when it was sunk by a German sub.
80 miles off of Norfork Va. He was then assigned to the U.S.S Gandy for the duration
of the war. Arlis is the son of Lee Ora Hart and Rosa Ellen Hubbs. Arlis was born
and raised in Corbin Ky,. He is retired from Fisher Body in Hamilton, Oh. He is married to Jesse Moore also of Corbin.
Ben Hart;  bandy@TSO.Cin.IX.Net Cincinnati

Paul Glenn HART served in the U.S.Navy during World War II, aboard the
USS. GRIFFIN, a subtender for two years in the Pacific War Zone. After the
war he started a coal mining business in Bell Co. Ky. He is now retired and
lives on his farm in Corbin, Ky. Paul was born and raised in Corbin. He is
the son of Lee Ora Hart and Rosa Ellen Hubbs. Paul married Ruth Gibbs also
of Corbin, who is a genealogist and has written books on the GATLIFF, GIBBS
HART, HUBBS and WORLEY families.Ben Hart;  bandy@TSO.Cin.IX.Net Cincinnati

Walter D. HART, served in the U.S.Army in World War II. He is retired from
Fisher Body Co. of Hamilton, Oh. Walter was born and raised in Corbin, KY.
He is the son of Lee Ora HART and Rosa Ellen HUBBS. He is married to
Ora MITCHELL also from the Corbin area. They live near Hamilton, Oh.
Ben Hart;  bandy@TSO.Cin.IX.Net Cincinnati

Willard L. HART, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired
from the Chrysler Corp. He is the son of Lee Ora HART and Rosa Ellen HUBBS.
Willard was born and raised in Corbin, Ky. He married Arlene WOODS also of
the Corbin area.  Ben Hart;  bandy@TSO.Cin.IX.Net Cincinnati

Frank William (Billy)Hudson, born 21 May 1927
Raised on Brown's Creek at the Farm of his parents Marion Washington Hudson
and Maggie Mae Small Hudson.
He enlisted in the US Army Infantry in 1944 at the age of 17.
He was killed in France on 26 Sep 1946 at 19 years of age and was also
awarded the "Purple Heart".
He was the Great Great Grandson of Calvin Hudson/Hutson that settled in
Campbell Co, Tn in 1828 before moving to Marsh Creek, Whitley Co in the
1860's. The Great Grandson of Henry Hudson of Whitley Co and The Grandson of
Ambrose Hudson of Whitley Co.
He was the first born of 11 children born to Marion and Maggie Hudson. He
also had 4 step brothers and sisters from Marion's previous marriage to
Pearl Mae Brown. I am Frank Wm. Hudson the nephew of Frank Wm. Hudson
deceased War Veteran. I never knew him, but I'll never forget him. I also
named my first born son Frank Wm Hudson Jr. My email address is
frankhud@msn.com my mailing address is:
Frank Wm. (Bill) Hudson   159 Rosetown Ch Rd.  Corbin, Ky 40701

Patrick J. Kelly 2nd Lt. , a native of Corbin Ky. He was the pilot of a B-26 marauder
bomber plane named Hells Hurricane in the 386th group of the 555th bomb
squadron operating out of Boxted, England. he was killed in action August 9,1943 while bombing a large Luftwaffe airfield at St-Omer France. He was born in Corbin, KY. and a graduate of Corbin High School.     Timothy J  Kelly, 2580 5th st rd Corbin Ky 40701 thedude92058@aol.com

Edward B. PEMBERTON served in U.S. Army during WWII. Born and raised in Williamsburg, Whitley County KY, his tomestone notes:  Cpl. Coast Atty. Corps WW-2
Submitted by Karen Willis 12451 Shawnee Road, Fort Myers Florida 33919.  fritzzy@earthlink.net 

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