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Personal info

Full name
TOPE, John Leroy
Date of birth
10 February 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Kendall, Hamilton County, Kansas
Hometown
Hamilton County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
37503326
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 July 1944
Place of death
Haren, 8 km northeast of Brussels, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 31 2

Immediate family

Members
Eli H. Tope (father)
Grace M. Tope (mother)
George Tope (brother)
Cleo L. Tope (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30642
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Geronimo
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 7555

More information

At about 0845 hours at about 20,000 feet, near Aachen 5045N - 0600E, A/C 642 peeled out of formation and dropped behind. Pilot called out over VHF saying one engine out and was aborting. A/C fell behind group and last reported struggling near 5045N - 0600E. No chutes seen, Cause of distress unknown.

All crew members were killed.

S/Sgt John L. Tope is remembered at Kendall Cemetery in Kendall, Hamilton County, Kansas.

Source of information: Luc van der Sterren,Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR,
www.ancestry.com - Burris Family Tree, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com