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Personal info

Full name
HORTON, Jack Wesley
Date of birth
8 May 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Dunkirk, Chautauqua, New York
Hometown
Chautauqua County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-793627
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
61st Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 July 1943
Place of death
Werkendam-Nieuwendijk, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 21 2

Immediate family

Members
Ralph W. Horton (father)
Aline J. (Skinner) Horton (mother)
Warren Horton (brother)
Ralph W. Horton, Jr (brother)
Margaret E. (Bennink) Horton (wife)
Patricia Horton (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
41-6265
Data
Type: P-47C
Nickname: Francy Ann
Destination:Kassel, Germany
Mission: Escort
MACR: 219

More information

2nd Lt Jack W. Horton graduated from Chautauqua High School in 1938 and attended the University of Alabama.

1st Lt. Hiram O. Bevins states in the Missing Aircrew Report:
"I was flying no.3 in Blue Flight. At the time when we made Rendezvous with the bombers, 3 ME109's were sighted below. At that time Blue Flight leader, peeled off and started in a diving attack. The last time I saw Blue 2, Lt. Horton, was in this dive, following Blue 1."

A farmer tried to save Horton from the burning plane but exploding ammunition killing him as well.

Lt Horton's brother-in-law, Lt Col Donald T. Bennink, was killed near Soissons, France in 1944 and is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France.

Lt Horton is remembered at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, Chautauqua County, New York with a memorial marker.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, National WWII Memorial, Footnote, Buffalo News - 9 August 1943, 1940 US Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 56th Fighter Group, Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - CA Brown