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name
PERRITT, John Matt - Date of
birth
1 October 1920 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Bienville Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-795820 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 September 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the coast of Langeoog Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 19 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John C. Perritt (father)
Amanda (Harvey) Perritt (mother)
Robert Perritt (brother)
Rex Perritt (brother)
Floyd Perritt (brother)
Gene Perritt (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29750 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rebel's Revenge
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat base
MACR: 668
More information
1st Lt John M. Perritt attended college.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 17 March 1942.
At approximately 1010 hours, 24,000 feet, just after leaving the target, the airplane was seen with an engine on fire. It left the formation and was seen to drop its bombs. It was last seen heading down in a dive.
Two crew members survived the crash: 2nd Lt Richard F. Hull and T/Sgt Edgar G. Fetty and were taken prisoner. The bodies of two other crew members, 2nd Lt John M. Perritt and 2nd Lt Frank O. Rolfe, washed ashore and were initially interred at Langeoog Cemetery Duenenfriedhof.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Perritt Family Tree
Photo source: FOHF, Ron Perritt (nephew)