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name
SHEPPARD, John J - Date of
birth
10 July 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
New York, New York -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12155930 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Turret Gunner -
Unit
700th Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 February 1944 - Place of
death
Gramsbergerweg
Baalder, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 18 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John C. Sheppard (father)
Rose V. Sheppard (mother)
Donald P. Sheppard (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7567 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Wacky Donald
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Gothaer Waggonfabrik - aviation industry
MACR: 2553
More information
S/Sgt John J. Sheppard attended high school for four years and was a clerk.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 20 October 1942.
On the way to the target, the group was attacked and the pilot decided to turn back. It crashed in Baalder, The Netherlands, close to the farm of the Reinders family. Because the airplane hadn't dropped his bombs, a certain amount of them exploded which completely destroyed the farm and caused a lot of windows of other houses to break.
Five crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Nijenstede in Hardenberg.
Four of the surviving crew members were taken prisoner, short after they landed. One crew member, Clement F. Leone evaded capture until he was arrested in Belgium in July 1944.
S/Sgt Sheppard was found in the wreckage, blown half-way out of the tail turret after he was hit by a 20mm shell. He was killed instantly.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Erna Potgieter, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, 1930 US Census, Headstone and Internment Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - DB Cooper