Virgil French was the ball turret gunner on a B-17 piloted by Lt. Euguen Whelan and that was nicknamed the Flying Jenny.  On 6 March 1944 the Flying Jenny was on a mission to bomb a ball bearing factory near Berlin.  When they approached Magedeburg in Germany, they encountered enemy fighters.  Near Treuenbriezen, the Flying Jenny was rammed by one of the German 109s.  It exploded and fell onto another B-17 that was flying beneath it that was piloted by a Lt. Graves.  All of the crew members of the Flying Jenny, as did all but one of the crew members of Lt. Graves’ bomber.

Information provided by Henri Hannon.