John Marshall Toomey

Military
media-24164.jpeg UPL 24164 Major John Marshall Toomey
Pilot
376th BG

KIA 31 January 1943

Object Number - UPL 24164 - Major John Marshall Toomey Pilot 376th BG KIA 31 January 1943

Maj. John Marshall “Jack” Toomey

BIRTH : 19 Feb 1913 - San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA

DEATH : 31 Jan 1943 - age 29 - Messina, Italy

BURIAL: North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia



Maj. John Toomey was the command pilot of his assigned B-24D bomber, 41-11603,he named, Malicious, assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 376th Bombardment Group, and the 513th Bombardment Squadron. Major Toomey was piloting his B-24D, Malicious, on a combat mission to bomb the Messina Harbor in Sicily, when two of his engines were destroyed by German anti aircraft flak batteries. Major Toomey stayed on his bomb run and hit his target. Then, as he was leaving the area, his B-24 was attacked by German fighters. After a running air battle, Major Toomey was forced to ditch his bomber into the Tyrrhenian Sea, twenty miles off the coast of Messina, Sicily. Crewmen in other aircraft in the area saw four to six men evacuate the plane into life rafts, but subsequent rescue flights were unable to locate the men. Maj. Toomey and his crew were all listed as Missing In Action. 10 MIA - later changed to 10 KIA. 31 January, 1943.



Because his body was never recovered, Major John Toomey is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia



John Toomey was from Austin, Texas. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart medals, for his flying skill and bravery in combat. He was just 29 years of age when he gave his life in the cause for freedom.

Connections

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Units served with

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16003930
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 7020819
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 7020410
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6997114
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-433160
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Malicious
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron Halverson Detachment

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Lod

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

San Antonio, TX, USA 19 February 1913

Died

Messina, Province of Messina, Italy 31 January 1943 On January 31, 1943, Toomey was pilot of B-24D #41-11603 named 'Malicious', assigned to the 9th Air Force, 376th Bombardment Group, 513th Bombardment Squadron. Malicious was the lead plane on a combat mission to bomb Messina Harbor in Sicily. Two engines were knocked out of commission by anti-aircraft artillery, but they stayed on their bomb run and hit their target. They were then set upon by German fighter planes and after a running battle, were forced to make a water crash landing into the Tyrrhenian Sea, twenty miles off the coast of Messina, Sicily. Crewmen in other aircraft saw four to six men evacuate the plane into life rafts, but subsequent rescue flights were unable to locate the men. Because his body was never recovered, he's memorialized on the Wall of the Missing. Toomey was from Austin, TX. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Buried

No Known Grave Tablets of The Missing North Africa American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

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ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey

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ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey

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ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Major John Marshal Toomey ---- B-24 Best Web - 'Malicious'

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Maj. John Marshal Toomey

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Maj. John marshal Toomey

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ContributorSusan2meFrost
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I am the daughter (and only child) of Jack Toomey

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Contributor466thHistorian
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Contributor466thHistorian
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John Marshall Toomey: Gallery (1 items)