Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SULLIVAN, John Joseph - Date of
birth
14 June 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana -
Hometown
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-696718 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
717th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Dalvers, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 22 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Patrick J. Sullivan (father)
Sarah (Howard) Sullivan (mother)
Mary H. Sullivan (sister)
Veronica N. Sullivan (sister)
Josephine M. (O'Donnell) Sullivan (wife)
Kathleen M. Sullivan (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95182 -
Data
Type: B 24-H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 8292
More information
John J. Sullivan graduated from Arsenal Technical High School.Statement from S/Sgt Stanley Dubee, one of the surviving crew members:
"We were hit by flak about a minute after bombs away. It hit right under #2 engine, killing the engineer in the top turret. We dropped down to 12,000 ft altitude. Gas lines along the bomb bay were leaking gas. Also, the booster pump on the main tank had a hole as big as a 50-caliber bullet. I tried to plug that hole up. The fact is, we all tried to stop the leaks. There were four of us in the waist and five in the front. That's when the fire broke out; it started in the bomb bay."
2nd Lt John J. Sullivan was last seen in the co-pilot's seat, trapped by fire.
Six crew members were killed, and four survived and were taken prisoner. The deceased men were initially buried at the cemetery of Achmer, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Indianapolis Star / The Indianapolis News, www.ancestry.com - Marriage record / Birth Record / 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 44-F Majors Field, Greenville, Texas / Pilot 43-J Goodfellow Field, Texas, www.newspapers.com - The Indianapolis News