John Washington Gillikin

Military
media-55872.jpeg UPL 55872 Sgt. John W. Gillikin was the sole survivor of the crash of the B-24D , 42-40172, Lynn Bari II. He bailed out over France on a drop to the French resistance, and, badly burned, he was found and treated by the resistance until he could be airlifted back to the U.S.

American Air Museum in Britain - John W Gillikin - 42-40127 - Lyn Bari II

Object Number - UPL 55872 - Sgt. John W. Gillikin was the sole survivor of the crash of the B-24D , 42-40172, Lynn Bari II. He bailed out over France on a drop to the French...

Assigned to 856BS, 492BG, 8AF USAAF. On the night of August 14-15, 1944, Pilot Norton's B-24D, 42-40172, was attacked by fighters and hit by antiaircraft fire while making a drop to the French Resistance. In a hilly area near Lyon, France, the plane went down and crashed after the drop to the French was made. Sgt. John Gillikin bailed out and was the lone survivor. The French found him badly burned and injured, and nursed him and kept him alive for several weeks until the Allied Forces came to Lyon. From there, he was flown to a hospital in Italy, and soon thereafter, flown back to Augusta, GA, so that his burns could be properly treated. Sgt Gillikin was wounded in action WIA. 15 Aug 1944.



Awards: AM, PH.

Connections

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Units served with

A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-696869
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Lynn Bari II
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Carteret, NC 19 May 1917 Son of Bert Washington and Rosa Felton [Arthur] Gillikin.

Enlisted

Fort Bragg, NC 16 October 1942 Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Other

Wounded in action

Lyon France 15 August 1944 Sgt. Gillikin was shot down and badly burned bailing out of his B-24D bomber, Lynn Bari II, over Lyon, France. He was found and treated by the French resistance until transported back to the U.S. He was the only survivor of his plane's crash. WIA. 15 Aug 44.

Died

7 May 2004

Buried

Bayview Cemetery Morehead City, Carteret County, NC 10 May 2004 Bayview Cemetery Morehead City, Carteret County, North Carolina
Beaufort, NC

Based

North Pickenham 15 August 1944 Assigned to 856BS, 492BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

American Air Museum in Britain - John W. Gillikin - 42-40172 - Lynn Bari II

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Minor wording , spacing changes. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8422 / MACR 8422,Combat Chronology Supplements p. 541 and 194, They Flew by Night, pp. 221-222, http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

John Washington Gillikin: Gallery (1 items)