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Personal info

Full name
CHANNELL, John Stanley
Date of birth
6 December 1922
Age
20
Place of birth
Strong, Union County, Arkansas
Hometown
Binger, Caddo County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
10601050
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
1 December 1943
Place of death
Buderich, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Llewellyn W. Channell (father)
Agnes E. (Ingram) Channell (mother)
Gene E. Channell (sister)
Mary A. Channell (sister)
Virginia S. Channell (sister)
Jayne D. (Hutchins) Channell (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31111
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Four Aces - Pat Hand
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1659

More information

S/Sgt John S. Channell graduated from the Oklahoma Military Academy after which he travalled to Canada to volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Corce on 17 September 1941. After training he was sent to England to serve with the RAF. On 11 June 1943 he was transferred to the USAAF.

Crew members of other airplanes in the same group stated that they saw a burst of flak very close to the #3 engine at about two minutes before the I.P. The airplane continued its way, seemingly undisturbed by it. After bombs away, the bomb bay doors remained open and after about 30 seconds it slightly turn away from the formation.

It is believed the airplane crashed in the Rhine river near Buderich. The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.archives.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Fitts Family Tree, Channell: official paperwork from RCAF, U.S. War Dept., MACR, Channell family papers, medals and accompanying citations, IDPF

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Judith E. Ray this is a photo John S. Channell sent to his parents, Samantha Dieters