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name
HUTCHINS, John E - Date of
birth
26 March 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Glenn, Allegan County, Michigan -
Hometown
Glenn, Allegan County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16087928 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 April 1944 - Place of
death
600 m. northwest of Grasleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Floyd L. Hutchins (father)
Helene B. (Lundgren) Hutchins (mother)
Orey Repp (step-father)
Donald H. Hutchins (brother)
Gerald L. Hutchins (brother)
Haldon Hutchins (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97559 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railway facilities at Friedrichstrasse
MACR: 4459
More information
John Hutchins was a sales clerk before he volunteered for the Army of the United States in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on 16 November 1942.The airplane left the formation after a final attack by enemy fighters. It circled to the right, away from this group's formation, with #4 propeller windmilling and #1 engine smoking. It was last seen slowly spiraling downward, apparently under control.
Due to the rapidity and continuity of the attacks from enemy aircraft, the details concerning the loss of this aircraft and other aircraft lost by this group on this date are very few.
S/Sgt Hutchins received a 20 mm shell between his eyes as he was going from the radio room to the waist escape hatch to bail out. He was the only crew member who didn't survive. Nine crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com - Mr. Lewis Guigue (Friend)