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Submit- Full
name
SULLIVAN, Joseph William - Date of
birth
18 April 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio -
Hometown
Hamilton County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-676166 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
2 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
James E. Sullivan (father)
Lauretta A. (Peppard) Sullivan (mother)
John M. Sullivan (brother)
Kathleen M. Sullivan (sister)
Ruth A. Sullivan (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30421 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3135
More information
2nd Lt Joseph W. Sullivan entered the Air Corps in June, 1942. He was awarded his navigator wings in Hondo, Texas.Lt Sullivan flew his first mission on 15 August 1943 as a member of the crew of B-17 # 42-5905. He completed 15 missions with this crew. This was his first mission with this a new crew in another B-17.
Three to four minutes after having dropped the bomb load the airplane ran into problems. Apparently it was hit by flak and the propeller on number one engine was feathered. At the same time a minor fire started in number two engine. The aircraft entered a spiral dive while the crew bailed out. All parachutes were seen crashing in the North Sea on position 53'35N 07'10E.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terrry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Cards, The Cincinnati Enquirer - 6 November 1943, 1920 Census, Fold3, The Cincinnati Post - 11 March 1944
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Cincinatti Post - 11 March 1944