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Submit- Full
name
POSSON, John Louis - Date of
birth
10 November 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Fresno County, California -
Hometown
Fresno, Fresno County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39690407 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
723rd Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 July 1944 - Place of
death
Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 25 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Philip F. Posson (father)
Margaret J. (Mand) Posson (mother)
Philip G. Posson (brother)
Howard M. Posson (brother)
Katherine M. Posson (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-78284 -
Data
Type: B-24G
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 7096
More information
T/Sgt John L. Posson attended college before he enlisted in Fresno, California on 12 December 1942.Sgt Walter H. Lucia:
“I was flying as tail turret gunner in ship #519 in the lead position of the first attack unit. Lt Fredd was flying ship #42-78284 in the #6 position in the lead element of the second attack unit. About three minutes before target time, Lt Fredd’s ship was hit by flak in the bomb-bay. Fire broke out and the ship fell out of formation and dived down about five hundred feet. He dropped his bombs and then went into a dive. I saw four parachutes leave the ship. I did not see the ship explode because it passed out of my line of vision. According to my navigator’s report, the coordinates were 4809N 1127E. The time was 1155.”
Sgt Seth P. Staples:
“He was trapped by flames in the flight deck. The ship blew up before he could bail out.”
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Suzanne Otto Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html
Photo source: www.ancestry.com – U.S. School Yearbooks Fresno California, www.newspapers.com – The Fresno Bee The Republican California 23 October 1944