12Feb1925 – 5Aug1944
Edison Days
John attended Edison from 1941 to 1943. It appears that he withdrew before graduating to join the Army Air Force.
Military Service
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: United States Army Air Corps
Unit: 838th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) – 487th Bombardment Group – 8th Air Force
John joined the Army Air Force in October 1943. It is unknown where he attended basic training or gunnery school. He went overseas in June 1943.
It is likely that he joined the 838th Bombardment Squadron in July 1944 as a replacement crewmember when the squadron transitioned to the B-17 Bombers. The 487th Bombardment Group was based at Station 137 in Lavenham, Suffolk, England.
Records indicated that John flew his first mission on 1Aug1944 when the group bombed Tours, France..
John – Bottom Row, Left
John flew missions on August 2 to Val Des Jones, France, August 3 to Joigny-Laroche, France, and August 4 to Nordholz, Germany.
John’s 5th mission on August 5 was to bomb an aircraft engine factory near Magdeburg, Germany.
Several miles and 2 minutes out from the target, flying at over 25,000′ altitude, John’s plane took a direct hit from German Flak (anti-aircraft artillery). The flak hit the right wing of the plane causing part of the wing to separate. The plane exploded within seconds.
Only 2 of 10 crew members were able to escape the doomed aircraft. The pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Charles Dauchle, and a waist gunner, Sergeant Robert Crooker. Both men were captured, became prisoners, and survived the war.
John was either killed in the initial explosion or was unable to escape from his position in the ball turret.
German authorities recovered John’s body amid the wreckage where it has crashed near Lostau, Germany.
The following day he was buried in the community cemetery in Lostau.
John’s condition was not initially known by his unit, only that his plane had been shot down. He was originally reported as missing.
It took over 5 weeks for news of his death to reach his family.
The Edison Record mentioned his death in their 3rd annual war issue.
It is highly unlikely that John shot down during his 5 missions. There are no records supporting the claim either.
In 1949 John’s remains were returned to Minnesota for reburial.
His funeral service was held on 22Jun1949.
John is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Edison Heroes 