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name
SULLIVAN, John Lawrence Jr - Date of
birth
15 December 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Massachusetts -
Hometown
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1638624 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
726th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 December 1944 - Place of
death
Odertal, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John L. Sullivan (father)
Mary E. (Moriarity) Sullivan (mother)
James J. Sullivan (brother)
Katherine F. Sullivan (sister)
Geraldine Sullivan (sister)
Francis L. Sullivan (brother)
Mary E. Sullivan (sister)
Marjorie E. Sullivan (sister)
Constance D. Sullivan (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-52045 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Odertal, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 10681
More information
S/Sgt Thomas E. McHale:I, Thomas E. McHale, was tail gunner on an airplane in the same flight as 1st Lt William T. Shelton, flying aircraft 42-52045. On 17 December 1944, Lt Shelton lead our flight on a mission over the Odertal Oil Plant in Germany. Shortly after passing over the target I saw Lt Shelton veer off to the right and the number two ship tried to fly over him to take over the lead. As the number two ship let down his tail hit the number one propeller of Lt Shelton’s airplane as Lt Shelton was coming back into his former position. I last saw Lt Shelton’s airplane at about 1256 hours, at approximately 50 degree 31N, 18 Degree 08E, in Germany. The weather was clear and I saw three parachutes leave the aircraft, which appeared to be under control.
T/Sgt Homer D. Pierce:
Bailed out over Odertal, Germany believe he was killed on way down or after he was on the ground.
2nd Lt John L. Sullivan, Jr. graduated from Quincy High School in 1936 and was employed at the telephone company.
Lt Sullivan is remembered at Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – James J. Sullivan, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Have Paws will travel / C Prendiville, www.newspapers.com - The Boston Globe 17 February 1945