John Richard Ward
MilitaryJohn Ward was Co-Pilot on B-17 #42-30816 on the 11 December 1943 mission to Emden, Germany. Was inside the ship when it crash-landed near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands. Captured and made a Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mary Ellen III
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 11 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
30 December 1941 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
11 December 1943 | NARA WWII POW record : “'9 March 1944’… Interned at Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany. Returned to Military Control ’18 February 1946’.”… | |
Died |
26 January 1990 | ||
Born |
Michigan | ||
Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |||
Buried |
John Ward rests at the Eastwood Colonial Memorial Gardens, Davison, Genesee County, Michigan |
Revisions
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources
MACR 1664
NARA WWII enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Dutch page at http://zuurdiek.nl/1943-vliegend-fort-mary-ellen-iii-neergestort/
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
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