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name
O'NEAL, John Edwin Jr - Date of
birth
1922 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia -
Hometown
Chatham County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-671169 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1944 - Place of
death
Weibersbrunn near Aschaffenburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 12 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John E. O'Neal (father)
Erma O'Neal (mother)
Charles E. O'Neal (brother)
William E. O'Neal (brother)
Richard N. O'Neal (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97464 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: What Next
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of Kugelfischer Industry, ball bearings factory
MACR: 3941
More information
1st Lt John E. O'Neal, Jr. enlisted at Hunter Field in Savannah, Georgia, on 2 April 1942.A/C 42-97464 was attacked by enemy fighters. The plane was seen pulling out of formation, with the left wing tip burning. The aircraft turned back and seemed under control for about 40 seconds, then went into a steep dive and blew up at 16,000 feet. Eight crew members were able to bail out and survived. Two men, one of them 1st Lt John E. O'Neal, Jr., were KIA. Surviving crew member reports indicate that 1st Lt O'Neal did bail out of the ship, but that his chute failed to open.
Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Buxton and O'Neal Family Tree
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Luc van der Sterren, Arie-Jan van Hees - Bomb 43-02 San Angelo Texas