John Gunning

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Shot down by fighters and crashed near Hardenburg, Holland on a mission to Gotha, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-24H #42-7567 'Wacky Donald'. Killed in Action (KIA).



A tragic story emerges from the book:

Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, by Robert D Madsen

Gunning was ground crew (armorer.) He "begged to go on a mission." He was subbing for A R Kaufman who was sick. Pilot Blomberg would catch hell if the brass found out that this "vital ground crewman was airborne." Blomberg and Gunning didn't live to "catch hell."

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Richard E McCormick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34118802
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

William J McKee

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

John J Sheppard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12155930
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Emery J Varga

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687967
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Donald H Widmark

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

24 February 1944

Born

Montebello, California, USA

Buried

Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Germany 24 February 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

Date
ContributorDRudell
Changes
Sources

Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, by by Robert D Madsen

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2553 / MACR 2553, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database