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name
TOWLE, John Rogers - Date of
birth
14 January 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Tamaqua, Schuykill County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33361214 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
26 July 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the East Frisian Islands, 35 miles from the nearest land, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Royal C. Towle (father)
Miriam E. (Rogers) Towle (mother)
Royal C. Towle (brother)
Mary J. Towle (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30281 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hannover, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 191
More information
S/Sgt John R. Towle graduated from Pottsville High school in 1939 and was an assemblyman at the Glenn L. Martin Co. plant in Baltimore, Maryland.He enlisted in Allentown, Pennsylvania on 21 August 1942.
The plane blew up before hitting the water. It had been on fire and seemed to be trying to ditch. No parachutes were reported from this plane.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.basher82.nl, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, The Morning Call - 15 August 1944
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Pottsville High school, 1939