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Personal info

Full name
CALDWELL, John T
Date of birth
10 September 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Reynoldsville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33570000
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
850th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
5 December 1944
Place of death
Gross Zerlang, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Torrence V. Caldwell (father)
Esther G. Caldwell (mother)
Charlotte Caldwell (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8140
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 11046

More information

S/Sgt John T. Caldwell enlisted in Altoona, Penssylvania on 14 January 1943. He trained at Miami Beach; Fds. Keesler, Morrison and served in England, France, Belgium and Germany. He attended Du Bois High School

He was an engineer and gunner on a B-24 Liberator, and a B-17, Flying Fortress, who flew 28 missions over enemy territory from D-Day until he crashed over Berlin in December 1944. His crew led the high squadron on missions for the 490th Bomb Group, 850th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Wing for the 8th Air Force based in England.

The airplane left formation after bombs away and was hit by fighters and flak.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Erwin Derhaag, Astrid van Erp, Eric Swain - 490th Bomb Group, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - WWII Young American Patriots / Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Dubois High School Yearbook 1946, Eric Swain 490th Bomb Group