John D O'Connell Jr
MilitaryJohn O'Connell was Right Waist Gunner on B-17 #42-30816 on the 11 December 1943 mission to Emden, Germany. Bailed out and landed near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands. Captured and made a Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35333547
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11046233
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31155161
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17020292
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13053156 at enlistment, then O-673805
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
![First Lieutenant Lyle Fryer of the 385th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Ellen III". Passed for publication 28 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-200-201. L/Lt.[sic] Lyle Fryer, of Rochester, Minn., pilot of the Fortress "Mary Ellen III", awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement" during a bombing mission over Germany recentl. Lt. Fryer is only 22 years of age, and has already been awarded the Air Medal for "](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413608.jpg.webp?itok=3_slaH10)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mary Ellen III
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
6 December 1920 | Washington, District of Columbia, United States, the son of John D. and Ruth Lenora (Baxter) O’Connell - (younger sister) Jane O’Connell Kidwell | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
11 December 1943 | captured near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands. Interned at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan/Zagan, Poland. Force-marched from there to Stalag 7A Moosburg, Germany. Liberated there by US troops on 29 April 1945. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control 14 June 1945.” | |
|
Died |
15 March 2009 | Rehoboth, Massachusetts | |
|
Born |
Ayer, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (his Mother lived in Taunton, Mass.) |
Revisions
added Jane O’Connell Kidwell to family list.
My grandmother is John’s sister Jane. I was always told John was a navigator and spent time in Stalag 17D. can’t confirm that as I never met him, just what’s been passed down to me.
! Note for Jonathan Moore - http://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/17938 :
Couldn’t you make some other contributions than futile additions “to aid clarity & consistency”?
Like some REAL research for example… Thank you.
- - -
Sources for this update :
MACR 1664
WWII Draft card
NARA WWII POW records
SSDI Social Death Security Index
Dutch page at http://zuurdiek.nl/1943-vliegend-fort-mary-ellen-iii-neergestort/
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1664 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database