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name
INMAN, John Francis - Date of
birth
5 February 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa -
Hometown
Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17169450 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
335th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 January 1944 - Place of
death
Wingene, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 44 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Silas W. Inman (father)
Ruth G. (Bradley) Inman (mother)
Silas Inman Jr. (brother)
Mary E. Inman (sister)
Sally Inman (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30181 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Herky Jerky II aka Lover Boy
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of transportation and industrial targets
MACR: 2258
More information
John Inman attended Grinnell Community High school with the class of 1941.He enlisted on 9 December 1942.
The target of the mission was to bomb transportation and industrial targets at Frankfurt and Russelsheim. Most bombers had trouble forming up in bad weather and only 563 of the 857 B-17s were dispatched. All of the B-24s were recalled. Because of worsening weather all groups were recalled at 1020 hours but 58 B-17s bombed the Zukunft Power Station near Eschweiler.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. His tail caugth fire and he spun down but pulled up momentarily with his tail going off.
Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed.
S/Sgt Inman was first buried at the cemetery of the village of Wevelgem, Belgium.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, http://forum.armyairforces.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.ancestry.com - Grinnell Community High School Yearbook 1945