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2nd Lt Murphy graduated from Delta High School in 1941.

He enlisted on 25 April 1943 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Murdered by the SS.
#6580 was originally accepted by the 834th BS and flew as the "Dream King." Its call sign was Deepseat P Peter. Transferred to the 832nd and renamed "Flak Sak" this aircraft failed to return from a mission to Ziesar, Germany. At an altitude of 22,000' FLAK hit #6580 just after IP. Smoke from #3 and #4 obscured the aircraft from view. All crewmen bailed out from the stricken aircraft successfully. However, Lt Lamer and Lt Murphy, along with Sgt Marks and Sgt Sarockas were captured by SS troops after landing. Lt Dolan and Sgt Maxim were liberated a few days later when the Americans entered the city they were being held in.
Second Lt John S. Murphy was reported missing in action over Germany since 10 April, according to word recently received from the War department by his parens. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had received a letter from the pilot fo the plane in which their son was a member of the crew, who stated that all members of his group had parachuted safely from the sinking ship. The pilot said that he had seen Lt. Murphy land safely. The pilot was taken prisoner, but later was released. Lt. Murphy received his training as a navigator at Coral Gables, Fla. Entering the service in April 1943, he went overseas this past January. He was assigned to a B-17 Bomber crew in the Eight Air Force. Before entering the service, he was a student at Penn State. He has a brother in the service, Seaman 1/c James William Murphy, now stationed at Shoemaker, California.