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name
IRVINE, John Sherman Jr - Date of
birth
15 May 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-673181 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
4 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of the Frisian Islands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John S. Irvine (father)
Ethel M. (Hinson) Irvine (mother)
Alfred H. Irvine (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7474 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Satan's Flame
Destination: North Sea
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 891
More information
Lt. John S. Irvine, Jr graduated from Tusculum College with the Class of 1943 and attended the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Knoxville, Tennessee on 11 April 1942.
The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.
This aircraft was last seen when it lost altitude with one or more engines on fire as a result of fighter attacks. Three or four parachutes were noted at that time.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.b24.net, www.ancestry.com, U.S. Census Records, 1920, Kentucky, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Kentucky, Birth Index, 1911-1999.
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Tusculum University 1941, 1942 yearbook, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-03, Midland AAF, Texas.