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Submit- Full
name
BYERS, John F - Date of
birth
14 March 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Carey, Wyandot County, Ohio -
Hometown
Carey, Wyandot County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-745611 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 January 1945 - Place of
death
5 km northeast of Altenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 5 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur F. Byers (father)
Margaret J. (Griffith) Byers (mother)
Ardyth Byers (sister)
Elaine T. (Thome) Byers (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38955 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bonn, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Hangelar airfield
MACR: 11737
More information
2nd Lt John F. Byers attended high school for 4 years and was an actor. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Perry, Lacarne, Ohio on 31 March 1942. He trained at Santa Ana, California and Tucson, Arizona. He received his commission as Second Lieutenant at Marfa, Texas. He had been overseas since November 1944.The airplane 43-38237 was hit by flak and went out of control. It came up and rammed airplane 43-38955 and with his #1 and #2 propellers cutted the plane in half at the bomb bay.
Seven crew members were taken prisoner. John Byers also parachuted out and landed safely on the ground but was killed by German civilians. John Damiani was killed by the collision.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Erwin Derhaag, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, Service Record Book of Men and Women of Carey, Ohio and Community, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Service Record Book of Men and Women of Carey, Ohio and Community