John H Stephenson

Military

Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 16 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C B-26 42-107597 hit by fighters, tail turret and gunner torn off in collision with enemy fighter both wings set ablaze, exploded, crashed two miles SW Bonn, Germany. Tail turret with Stephenson were sliced from the aircraft by the E/A colliding with the aircraft, apparently he was still firing as the tail fell away. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 11669.



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

An airman of the 391st Bomb Group wearing a service dress jacket and kilt. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.'

391st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ralph H Lesmeister

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17114332 / O-705772
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot

Aircraft

42-107597

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Old Sarge
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.

757

  • Date: 23 December 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Matching airfield looking south, the technical site is on the left, 19 July 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number RAF/58/62.English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Matching

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Matching Green

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dallas, TX, USA 19 March 1919 Son of James and Laura T Stephenson.

Enlisted

Dallas, TX, USA 24 February 1943

Died

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C B-26 42-107597 hit by fighters, tail turret and gunner torn off in collision with enemy fighter both wings set ablaze, exploded, crashed two miles SW Bonn, Germany. KIA. MACR 11669.

Buried

53518 Adenau, Germany 24 December 1944 Interred Adenau Community Cemetery Adenau Germany
Dallas County, TX, USA

Based

Matching 23 December 1944 Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Re-Interred

Buried

Dallas, TX, USA Re-Interred Restland Memorial Park Dallas Dallas County Texas, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmdate.asp?thedate=441223&Submi…
http://www.b26.com/page/marauder_missions_december_23_1944.htm
https://www.fold3.com/image/46705747
https://www.fold3.com/page/84902321_john_h%20stephenson/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/320624388/?terms=John%20H%20Stephenson
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61194731