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name
LA RIVIERE, John Elphege - Date of
birth
7 August 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-886809 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
712th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
Ludwigslust, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Elphege I. La Riviere (father)
Bertha J. (Bruyere) La Riviere (mother)
Paul A. La Riviere (brother)
Richard P. La Riviere (brother)
Dorothy J. La Riviere (sister)
Helen A. (Donovan) La Riviere (wife)
John E. La Riviere (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-50838 -
Data
Type: B-24M
Nickname: Red Bow
Destination: Wesendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13730
More information
1st Lt John E. La Riviere worked in a textile factory.He enlisted at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on 7 August 1942.
The aircraft was attacked by Me 262s and broke in two.
Nine crew members were killed, and their remains were never found, except for 1st Lt Robert L. Mains and Sgt Charles H. Daman, for whom the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 12 and 15 September 2017 that their remains were accounted for.
One crew member was taken prisoner.
There is a famous photograph of this plane falling after being hit. It was cut in half by a Me 262. It can be found here: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/15076
Source of information: Jac Engels, Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-B, Majors Army Air Field, Greenville, Texas / Pilot 44-B Coleman FS