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Personal info

Full name
BONE, John Wilkins Jr "Jack"
Date of birth
14 July 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-732500
Rank
Captain
Function
Command Pilot
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 January 1945
Place of death
Ketzin, south of Nauen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 10 43

Immediate family

Members
John W. Bone Sr. (father)
Ethel L. (Duncan) Bone (mother)
Robert L. Bone (brother)
Thomas D. Bone (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6480
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Derben
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11826

More information

Capt John W. Bone Jr. graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School and was a clerk.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois, on 21 March 1942.

The aircraft was lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft.

Seven crew members were killed. Six of them were initially buried at the community cemetery of Ketzin: Taylor, Lynch, Bone, Kelly, Firof and one unknown (which must have been the pilot Thumlert). The fate of Zito is unknown.

Two crew members were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWII Draft Card www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Birth Certificate Index

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - Chicago Daily Tribune, www.newspapers.com, www.ancestry.com - Oak Park River Forest High School Yearbook 1941