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Personal info

Full name
SCARBROUGH, John Dudley
Date of birth
24 May 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Drumright, Creek County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Los Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Military service

Service number
19062175
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
24 February 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea near Rostock, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
H.L. Scarbrough (father)
Ada B. Scarbrough (mother)
Cora M. Scarbrough (sister)
Ray C. Scarbrough (brother)
Bettie Jo Scarbrough (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31349
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Stars & Stripes 2nd Edition
Destination: Rostock, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aviation industry
MACR: 2777

More information

T/Sgt John D. Scarbrough graduated from Central Normal School.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Los Angeles, California on 6 November 1941.

The primary target of the 304 bombers was the oil refineries of Poznan, Poland, but due to cloud cover, 263 bombers diverted to the secondary target of Rostock.

The plane was last sighted in the vicinity northwest of Rostock, Germany, over Mecklenburg Bay. It had earlier sustained rocket attacks from two JU 88s, which caused the loss of one engine and consequent lagging in the formation. It dropped about 1000 feet below the formation and was jumped by three enemy aircraft, which set the number 3 engine on fire. The plane was last seen, under control, gliding toward cloud cover with a JU 88 and ME 110 following it. Seven parachutes were sighted. The entire crew of 10 was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Las Cruses Sun News, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-C, Victory Field, Texas.