Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
ROTH, John Lester "Jack" - Date of
birth
26 April 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Lake County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16144797 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
710th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 January 1944 - Place of
death
South of Wagenfeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 14 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank J. Roth (father)
Rose E. (Smykel) Roth (mother)
Harold I. Roth (brother)
Rowland F. Roth (brother)
Eunice E. Roth (wife)
John Roth (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31082 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Hick's Hack
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the MIAG-Waggum aviation industry
MACR: 2512
More information
S/Sgt John L. Roth graduated from Barrington High School.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 27 October 1942.
The B-17 was attacked by enemy fighters and crashlanded near the town of Wagenfeld, Germany. Eight crewmen got out of the crippled plane
Sgt John L. Roth was wounded during the first attack. He was found unconsious in the radio room, lying against the radio. The plane crashed before he could be taken out from the radio room. The other casualty, Sgt Robert E. Schoolings, was found dead, still in the ball turret. They were initially buried at the Russian POW Cemetery of Ströhen on 12 January 1944.
At the time of his death, his brother Rowland served as a pilot with the U.S. Navy in Florida.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Marc van den Berkmortel, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.447bg.com, Chicago Tribune - 8 March 1944