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name
EYLENS, John Thomas Jr - Date of
birth
19 February 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Battle Ground, Tippencanoe County, Indiana -
Hometown
Lafayette, Tippencanoe County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35565225 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
533rd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 May 1944 - Place of
death
South of Piethen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 15 | 26 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John T. Eylens (father)
Gertrude (Smith) Eylens (mother)
Emma E. Everett (stepmother)
William Eylens (halfbrother)
Emily A. (Peterson) Eylens (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102672 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Dessau, Germany
Mission: Bombing oil refinery in Dessau
MACR: 5233
More information
John Eylens Jr. graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1940 and was a star member of his basketball team for three years.He enlisted in Indianapolis, Indiana on 27 October 1942
He was married to Emily Peterson on 26 August 1943.
Hewas sent to England in October 1943 He gained special recognition when, on one occasion, he fought a fire on the plane with his bare hands, while en route back from an attack on Germany. His brave act succeeded in extinguishing the flames and his plane was able to rejoin its formation.
The airplane, who was flying in the deputy lead position of the formation, was hit by German figthers during the first attack. It began to slide off to the right with a fire in his right wing between #3 and #4 engine. It kept turning to the right till it was going in the opposite direction, losing altitude all the time.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed. They were initially buried at the local cemetery of Piethen.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com, Peter Schrijvers 'The Margraten Boys' (2012), www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Records, www.newspapers.com - Lafayette Journal and Courier, www.newspapers.com - Birth Certificate
Photo source: FOHF, Kim ten Have, www.newspapers.com - Birth Certificate