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name
MURPHY, John Thomas - Date of
birth
21 March 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Collingswood, Camden County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-808115 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 March 1944 - Place of
death
Pfahlhausen-Hude, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 10 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John T. Murphy (father)
Mary A. Murphy (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37957 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 3432
More information
John T. Murphy attended college for one year.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 8 May 1942.
The plane was hit by flak in the front compartment after it had difficulty in keeping up with the formation. It dropped it’s bombs and tried to keep up, but was forced to turn back. Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed. they were initially buried at the New Cemetery in Oldenburg on 3 April 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Veterans Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer