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name
HEALY, John F - Date of
birth
11 April 1914 -
Age
29 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32335119 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Turret Gunner -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
In the Lek river close to the shore on the other side of the shipyard.
The Lek River between Nieuw-Lekkerland and Streefkerk, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 5 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas F. Healy (father)
Margaret J. (O'Brien) Healy (mother)
Margaret D. Healy (sister)
Thomas R. Healy (brother)
Elizabeth M. Healy (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31097 -
Data
Type: B-17 G
Nickname: Mission Belle
Destination: Leverkusen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of IG Farben factories
MACR: 1661
More information
Sgt John F. Healy enlisted at Governors Island, New York, on 12 May 1942.The plane's controls were shot away and as they were on the deck they did not have enough altitude.
The bomber made an emergency landing on the Lek river after a fight with German fighters. Seven crew members could escape the sinking bomber.
Everyone was still in the plane when they ditched. Everyone had been wounded with the exception of the co-pilot. Seven crew members survided and were taken prisoner, three were killed.
Sgt Healy was killed by machine gun fire of the attacking fighters. His remains were found in the plane during the salvage of the wreckage on 26 May 1955.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Enlistment Records / Family Tree, www.findagrave.com, www.8thafhs.com/db/search, http://hazy.home.xs4all.nl/MissionBelle.html
Photo source: Jac Engels, Mike Philbin