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name
DUNNINGS, John Joseph - Date of
birth
20 December 1915 -
Age
29 -
Place of birth
Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York -
Hometown
Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32808739 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
564th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank Dunnings (father)
Honoria Dunnings (mother)
Thomas Dunnings (brother)
Jeffrey John Dunnings (grand nephew)
More information
S/Sgt John J. Dunnings was a stock clerk.He enlisted in New York City, New York on 17 February 1943.
S/Sgt Dunnings was an ammunition supply technician with the 564th Bomber Squadron
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
S/Sgt Dunnings was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com