John Victor Griffin
Military
Object Number - UPL 7263 - John V. "Jack" Griffin, right, in London 8 July 1944.
John V. "Jack" Griffin was the oldest son of George Joseph Griffin and Irene Margaret Bailey Griffin. His sister, Patricia Griffin Burch, refers to him as "the handsome one". Per her recollection, he always wanted to fly and took private lessons in the Seattle area. He joined the Army Air Force, trained at March AAF Base in Southern California, and married there before his deployment to Europe.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 370th Fighter Group 485th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Florennes / Juxaine
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Seattle, WA, USA | 11 March 1921 | |
|
Enlisted |
14 September 1943 | ||
|
Died |
Houffalize, Belgium | 26 December 1944 | Armed reconnaissance during Battle of Bulge; target was Malmedy, Belgium, but he was shot down on a dive bombing run over Houffalize on the way to Malmedy. |
|
Buried |
Netherlands American Cemetery, 6269 NA Migraten, Netherlands | Buried at: Plot H Row 15 Grave 12 |
Revisions
Sources include the Missing Aircrew Report (declassified), data from the American Battle Monuments Commission, Ancestry.com, and photos and recollections from his surviving sister, Pat (Griffin) Burch. Jack Griffin and Pat Griffin Burch are first cousins of my paternal grandmother Teresa Porter Perrin.
