Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
JOHNSON, Marvin Fairman
Date of birth
28 August 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Vernon, Windham County, Vermont
Hometown
Franklin County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
31253828
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 October 1944
Place of death
Southeast of Sangerhausen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 33 6

Immediate family

Members
Ernest R. Johnson (father)
Irene E. Johnson (mother)
Ernstine M. Johnson (sister)
Frank W. Johnson (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-32020
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Belle of the Brawl II
Destination: Bohlen, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR: 9551

More information

Sgt Marvin F. Johnson graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1942.

Statement from Thomas C.S. Houser, 2nd Lt, Air Corps, Operations Adm. Off.:
"At Approximately 12 minutes before the briefed I.P. was reached, enemy aircraft made sudden attacks on the Group of which this aircraft was a member. The squadron in which this aircraft was flying bore the brunt of the attacks. About 50 to 50 S/E and T/E aircraft comprised the attacking force. They were mostly FW-190's although a few ME-109's and ME-210's were observed. The attacks lasted for about 10 minutes and there were friendly fighters present, but not in dussicient numbers to give adequate protection and due to the extreme battle conditions and other aircraft going down at the same time, no positive observations were made regarding the condition of this aircraft."

Sgt Johnson is remembered with a memorial marker at Tyler Cemetery in Vernon, Windham County, Vermont.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Ancestry, Fold3, Archives, WWIIMemorial
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Brattleboro High School 1942, www.findagrave.com