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name
GRIFFIN, John Victor "Jack" - Date of
birth
11 March 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Seattle, King County, Washington -
Hometown
Seattle, King County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-763166 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
485th Fighter Squadron,
370th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 December 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Houffalize, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 15 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George J. Griffin (father)
Irene M. (Bailey) Griffin (mother)
George J. Griffin (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-104287 -
Data
Type: P-38J
Nickname: Mutt
Destination: Area of Malmédy, Belgium
Mission: Armed reconnaissance
MACR: 11475
More information
John Griffin joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Seattle, Washington on 14 September 1942.Statement of 2nd Lt Richard R Booth, who flew in the same mission: "On 26 December, 1944 on a D/3 Mission to Hauffalize, Belgium I was flying No 2 position, Zenith Red flight. I went down on my bomb run, was hit by flak, pulled up and at no time saw what happened to Lt. Griffin and Lt. Berry, our No 3 and 4 men."
Statement of Lt Col Seth J McKee, who flew in the same mission: "On 26 December, 1944, I was leading Zenith Squadron on a dive bombing mission at Houffalize, Belgium. After reforming the squadron upon completion of dive bombing, No. 3 and 4 men of Zenith Red Flight were missing."
The airplane went down at about 15.00 hrs.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, Rik Verhelle, www.ancestry.com, “The 370th Fighter Group in World War II” by Jay Jones
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Rik Verhelle, Gerrie Franken - SOHE, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-A Williams Fd Arizona