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Personal info

Full name
KUIPERS, John
Date of birth
31 January 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey
Hometown
Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon

Military service

Service number
39179803
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 March 1944
Place of death
Varenesch near Goldenstedt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 32 3

Immediate family

Members
Harry Kuipers (father)
Katie Kuipers (mother)
Walter Nunnelly (half-brother)
Harry Kuipers (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31371
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Hairless Joe
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 3342

More information

S/Sgt John Kuipers graduated from Lebanon High School in 1938 and was employed by the Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle.

He enlisted in Tacoma Washington on 9 July 1942.

The formation was attacked by between thirty and forty fighters including ME 109s and FW 190s. One of the gunners of aircraft 42-31371 hit an FW 190 which exploded just off the left wing. The left wing of aircraft 42-31371 was torn off and the plane exploded.

S/Sgt Kuipers was buried on 25 March 1944 in the Prisoner – respectively Russian - Graveyard in Vechta/Oldenburg.

His half-brother, Walter Nunnelly, died after being taken prisoner of war in the Philippines.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans,Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – WWII Enlistment Record / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.newspapers.com – Daily Capital Journal / the Lebanon Express 28 September 1944, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Lebanon Union High School Yearbook 1938