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Submit- Full
name
JOHNSTON, John A - Date of
birth
1912 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
Hempstead, Nassau County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32505417 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
342nd Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Linz, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas H. Johnston (father)
Minnie A. Johnston (mother)
Marion L. Johnston (sister)
Thomas H. Johnston Jr. (brother)
William K. Johnston (brother)
Margaret E. Johnston (sister)
David R. Johnston (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6183 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Linz, Austria
Mission: Herman Goring Tank Works
MACR: 7125
More information
T/Sgt John A. Johnston attended and was a gardener before he enlisted at Fort Jay, New York, on 17 September 1942.Sgt Walter P. Gambill:
"Just before bombs away, the pilot of our aircraft called out, 'B-17 hit by flak at one o'clock.' It was the lead ship of our formation of the 97th Bomb Group. I turned my turret to watch it fall, and at this time the aircraft was going straight down. It was heading to the rear of our formation at the same time. It almost straightened out when I saw five chutes come out, and they all opened, and then the aircraft blew up. That is the last of the aircraft in trouble I saw."
T/Sgt Johnston did not have time to bail out. His remains were never recovered.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Hall Goodlett Family / 1920 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Have Paws will travel