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Personal info

Full name
JOHNSON, Paul Wilson
Date of birth
22 June 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
McCracken County, Kentucky
Hometown
Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky

Military service

Service number
15335261
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
750th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 November 1944
Place of death
Over Merseberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
unknown

Immediate family

Members
Ford H. Johnson (father)
Lucille F. (Neikirk) Johnson (mother)
Henry F. Johnson (brother)
William E. Johnson (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-31923
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Prop Wash
Destination: Merseberg, Germany
MACR: 10315

More information

Sgt Paul Johnson was employed by the Illinois Central Shops in his hometown.

He was sent overseas in June 1944.

He was putting on his chest-type parachute. I had just left the pilot's seat when there was a terrific flash as the plane exploded.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, www.ancestry.com Family Trees, The Paducah Sun Democrat 11 November 1945, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)

Photo source: Mireille Goedhart, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)