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name
FEDORA, John - Date of
birth
22 July 1917 -
Age
27 -
Place of birth
Summit Hill, Carbon County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Coaldale, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33055567 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
743rd Bombardment Squadron,
455th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Spittal an der Drau, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 23 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Fedora Sr. (father)
Justina Fedora (mother)
Wash Fedora (brother)
Annie Fedora (sister)
Harry Fedora Jr. (brother)
Olga Fedora (sister)
Mary Fedora (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-41055 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Miss Marjorie
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 9947
More information
Sgt John Fedora attended high school for 4 years and was a driver before he enlisted in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on 19 May 1941.2nd Lt. Richard M. Lipton:
On November 22, 1944 we took off from Italy and our flight was going to Munich, Germany, when we encountered bad weather. We found ourselves to be the only plane headed in that direction. I knew that we were in for trouble! We got as far as Austria, and then we decided to turn around and head for home. Since I was the bombardier, I had to pick a target to drop our bombs. We decided on Salzburg, Austria as it was the biggest target where we were. The target was the marshalling/railroad yards. After dropping the bombs, we were attacked by Messerschmitt Me 110's. The pilot rang the emergency bell to bail out. I pulled the nose gunner out of his compartment and opened up the nose wheel so we could escape the plane.
Sgt John J. McMahon:
His address book was brought in by the Germans and was given to a crew member. The Germans said he jumped without a chute.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Kathy McDermott, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Pennsylvania Veteran Compensation Application Files WWII / 1920/1940 Census, www.fold3.com, http://www.warrelics.eu, http://aircrewremembered.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Coaldale High School 1935 Stentor Yearbook