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name
BIRD, John J "Jackie" - Date of
birth
11 September 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
Iselin, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12011908 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 October 1943 - Place of
death
2 km southeast of Lütjenholm, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 | 28 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John J. Bird (father)
Helen (Wilson Pherigo) Bird (mother)
Thomas Bird (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29740 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Tondelayo
Destination: Anklam, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the FW-190 tail assembly plant
MACR: 896
More information
S/Sgt John J. Bird joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army on 31 March 1941. He was a mechanic before he joined the army.The airplane was last seen with n° 4 engine smoking and a 20 mm hole in the right elevator, under control and heading for Denmark.
S/Sgt Bird didn't bail out. He was last seen laying against the left waist gun.
He was initially buried at the cemetery of Leck, Germany on 13 October 1943. He was disinterred on 27 May 1946 and evacuated to Ardennes Cemetery as Unknown X-888. He was buried in a temporary grave at Ardennes on 4 June 1946, first believed to be John A. Delaney. He was disinterred on 29 November 1948 and his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 16 February 1949.
He was finally identified by comparison of dental records on 9 December 1949 and given his final resting place on 18 April 1950.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.91stbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Records / Headstone and Interment Record, www.findagrave.com, IDPF, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Karen Freeman