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Personal info

Full name
MARTIN, Johnnie F
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Texas
Hometown
Archer County, Texas

Military service

Service number
O2044886
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
361st Fighter Squadron,
356th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
29 November 1943
Place of death
Near Hellendoorn, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 18 8

Immediate family

Members
Denzil F. Martin (father)
Dora L. Martin (mother)
D.T. Martin (brother)
Gertrude Martin (sister)
Peggy D. Martin (sister)
Ethel (Riggin) Martin (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-8692
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 1543

More information

2nd Lt Johnnie F. Martin graduated from Megargel High School in 1938. He was employed by the Farmers & Merchants Gin Company.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Worth, Texas, on 7 November 1940, and received training to become a flight mechanic.

Before he was transferred to the Air Corps, he served for six months in Puerto Rico with an infantry unit. He returned to the US for flight training. He received his wings at Napier Field, Alabama in January 1943.

Lt Martin was spotted by other pilots of his group at the time they were leaving the bombers, and they were heading for home. He made motions indicating he was going to enter the cloud level, and that was the last time he was seen or heard.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record,
www.fold3.com - MACR 1543, http://www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Arie-Jan van Hees, Wichita Falls Times - 24 December 1943, Times Record News - 6 January 1944, Times Record News - 15 January 1943