HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1560.AM: Francis Orin Moore, 1923-1945
Papers (photocopies): 1941-1952
Gering, Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska: World War II soldier
Size: One folder
BACKGROUND NOTE
Francis Orin Moore, son of Orin and Amy (Barker) Moore, was born May 12, 1923, at Gering, Nebraska. Moore attended Gering High School where he played football and basketball. He graduated in 1941 and then enrolled at Chadron State Teachers College. Moore enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves in June of 1942, and was called into service on February 20, 1943. He received flight training and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on May 23, 1944. Moore then received advanced training at Roswell, New Mexico, where he flew B-17 Bombers with the Eighth Air Force.
In March of 1945, Moore sailed to Scotland and eventually was stationed near Norwich, England. He flew several bombing missions as co-pilot before taking over his own crew. He flew his first bombing mission as lead pilot on March 30, 1945, over Hamburg, Germany. On March 31, 1945, the crew flew its second mission near Zeitz, Germany. The plane was damaged by flak over the Zeitz oil refineries, and before Moore could make an emergency landing, they were attacked by German fighter planes, and the bomber was shot down. Four members of the crew were able to parachute to safety, but Moore and five others were killed.
Francis Orin Moore is buried at Saint-Avold Cemetery at Lorraine, France. There is a second headstone for Francis Moore in West Lawn Cemetery at Gering, Nebraska.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one folder containing photocopies of papers relating to Francis Orin Moore. Included in the collection are photocopies of letters Moore sent home to his family during his WWII service. Also included are photocopies of a memorial booklet, newspaper clippings, and photos of Moore’s gravesite in France.
Note: This collection consists of photocopies only. History Nebraska does not hold any of the original papers.
INVENTORY
Subject headings:
Moore, Francis Orin, 1923-1945
Soldiers — Nebraska — Gering
United States — Army Air Forces — Air Force, 8th
World War, 1939-1945 — Aerial operations, American
Revised TMM 08-18-2020
