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name
GORMAN, John Francis - Date of
birth
23 November 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Roslindale, Suffolk County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Roslindale, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-134909 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 March 1945 - Place of
death
Hamm, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 21 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John T. Gorman (father)
Mary E. Gorman (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31582 -
Data
Nickname: Ol' Scrapiron
Type: B-17G
Destination: Holzwickede, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13617
More information
F/O John F. Gorman was a smith.He enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts, on 13 April 1943.
Due to bad prop wash, the low element of the high squadron dropped 2,000 feet below the formation. Unable to regain its proper position, this element joined the 34th Bomber Group. B-17 #43-38971 of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off another aircraft, it struck B-17 #42-31582, which went into a tight spin. The right wing folded, and there was an explosion within the airplane in mid-air. It hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner; seven men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil /1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Frits Bruens