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Personal info

Full name
JOHANNESEN, Roy Christopher
Date of birth
30 November 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
11081894
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 September 1944
Place of death
Liepnitzsee, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 3 36

Immediate family

Members
Christopher Johannesen (father)
Ragnhild Johannesen (mother)
Myrtle V. Roberts (sister)
Alice C. Johannesen (sister)
Erling Johannesen (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97806
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Now An' Then
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Missio: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8818

More information

S/Sgt Roy C. Johannesen graduated from Dedham High School in 1933. He worked in a machine shop.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts on 17 July 1942.

The group in which this aircraft was flying was attacked by 50 to 70 enemy fighters. The aircraft was hit by 20 mm shells, one through the waste and another in the gas tank and caught fire.

It is also believed that the ball turret with S/Sgt Johannesen inside had plummeted to earth after the plane exploded.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.100thbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Michel Beckers