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Personal info

Full name
ADAMS, Johnnie U
Date of birth
28 June 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Indian Branch, Darlington County, South Carolina
Hometown
Darlington County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
14124342
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
11 December 1943
Place of death
North Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Edward L. Adams (father)
Mary E. (King) Adams (mother)
Mildred E. Adams (sister)
Lilian E. Adams (sister)
Viola E. Adams (sister)
Harry C. Adams (brother)
Bernice B. (Hodges) Adams (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31122
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Six Nights In Telergma (Arabian Nights)
Destination: Emden, Germany
MACR: 1583

More information

T/Sgt Johnnie U. Adams attended St John's High School.

He enlisted on 6 August 1942 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

The aircraft was shot down by a Bf 110G-2 of ZG 26 with a rocket over North Sea, Germany.
Andrew Anzanos 390th BG, 570th Sqd, Top Turret/Flight Engineer: "I was on that mission on Dec. 11 1943 and had a close-up view as the a/c with wing on fire went by us and the copilot was climbing out on the wing through the copilots window!! It turned out that it was Major Hansel, the Command Pilot who did not survive. It looked like he was trying to reach back in for his chest chute when he lost his grip. They were the lead ship. The a/c kept drifting back and blew up out of my sight. I had never heard of before or since of an escape through the side pilot's windows."

T/Sgt Adams is remembered at Mount Elon Cemetery in Hartsville, Darlington County, South Carolina, with a memorial marker.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Janice Monk, www.390th.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, Andrew Anzanos (390th BG, 570th Sqd, Top Turret/Flight Engineer)

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Mark Klausen / Darlington SC, The State - 7 February 1943