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name
HAMILTON, John Stewart - Date of
birth
24 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Alameda, Alameda County, California -
Hometown
Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-679503 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 February 1944 - Place of
death
Walcheren Island, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 20 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
A.L. Hamilton (father)
Helen (Hesemeye) Hamilton (mother)
Mable E. (Babcock) Hamilton (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37975 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR: 2343
More information
The airplane was hit by flak over Frankfurt. Approximately 10 km north of Brussels, Belgium, it lost an engine and pulled out of formation and headed for the undercast. It was smoking but appeared under control. At that time, Erich Scheyda, (an ace of JG26) attacked the straggling bomber that was diving for the undercast. Lt Scheyda damaged the B-17 further, but did not shoot it down. It flew on towards the North Sea and was hit by heavy flak over Vlissingen. The damaged B-17 turned north to a heading of approximately 010 degrees and started a descent, knowing that it could not make the trip across the English Channel.No parachutes were seen. The entire crew of ten men was killed.
The bodies of Harry Waskewicz, John Hamilton and Richard Anderegg were recovered near Ouddorp, the Netherlands on 6 February 1944. They were buried on 7 February 1944 at Ouddorp Communal Cemetery. The body of John Joyce was recovered near Ellemeet, the Netherlands on 5 April 1944 and was buried on 18 April 1944 in Haamstede Cemetery, near Ellemeet.
The wreckage of the plane is now located and lies near the Europort at Rotterdam, approximately two km southeast of the Hoek of the Europort. The Dutch Royal Navy is hoping to accomplish a side-scan sonar search of this area to re-locate the plane. It is possible that there are still six crew members in the wreckage.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: 100thBombGroup, http://www.basher82.nl - 100th BG Assoc