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name
MOTHERWAY, John William Jr - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Hampden County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-832853 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
406th Fighter Squadron,
371st Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 March 1945 - Place of
death
3 km north of Speyer, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 27 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John W. Motherway Sr. (father)
Edna M. Motherway (mother)
Helen P. Motherway (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-28637 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Nickname: Doris
Destination: Germany
Mission: Dive-bombing
MACR: 12836
More information
John W. Motherway Jr. graduated from Springfield Technical High School.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Springfield, Massachusetts, on 5 November 1942.
Statement of 1st Lt Bernard I. Flory, who flew in the same mission: "I was leading Yearling Blue Flight, with Lt Motherway flying my wing. His bombs hung on the initial run, and I took him back to the target, for another bomb run, then joined the Squadron at 9,000’. We were bounced, and I called to "Motherway Break”. It is my opinion that he broke too hard, and went into a spin. He bailed out, and I saw his chute open."
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Kathy McDermott, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Massachusetts Birth Index / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Springfield Technical High School 1941, Springfield Daily News - 22 June 1944